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

new tattoo to celebrate over 1 yr since surgery

Hi all

I went all the way to Northampton last week, to Alternative Art tattoo studio for my 1 year (ok a little late, I know) tattoo.  I had a small butterfly (my first every tattoo) covered over – what do you think?

I also walked/jogged  the Park Run again, 5K, and knocked 2.5 mins of my personal best.   Feeling good.

See you soon x

Nearly three years oh my

Morning everyone

We are in March and it occurred to me the other day that I am nearly THREE years post-op.  Wow

So what do I experience now, so long down the line?

• I still get times when I try to eat something and ‘fred’ spits his dummy out.  It isn’t even always something new, it can be something that I eat on a regular basis – bummer!
• I do have things I shouldn’t have, but not on a daily basis. I am normal and can fall of the ladder every now and again but…… I have maintained my weight loss (even less than when i was discharged from the surgeon)
• I have learned not to judge my journey and weight loss (6 stone) against any other bariatric person.  Why?  well we are all different, I was borderline weight of being accepted for this path so when people have lost 16 stone I used to feel worthless (What the heck was I thinking???!!)
  • As I said we are all different
  • some who lose so much were either a) 10 stone heavier than me to begin with and b) some who have lost so much are showing signs of an eating disorder as they are so worried of sliding backwards into old eating habits that they take it too far and really struggle to eat at all.
  • For you on the journey – remember that we can be referred to a psychologist at any time.  I had over a year with one who was a lovely woman and worked on my low self esteem etc.  I went in one day and said something had happened and I started (in my head) with oh no, not again, I’m worthless, stupid (select any negative adjective here).  She looked really worried till I said “Sh*t happens, get over yourself Mandy” and smiled.  I was then discharged but always with the premise that I could refer back any time.
  • I was a diabetic (still am) but my insulin is so much reduced that I don’t care.  I am one who didn’t come off insulin but instead of 99 units of humolog a day PLUS 120 units of Lantus at night – I have no humolog and only 14 units of Lantus at night – big change

If you look back to the beginning at my photo’s you will see how much I have changed.  My latest was a valentine shoot with my hubby in 1940/50’s gear.  I can’t believe how girly I have become.  Here is one of my favourites:

If you are just starting your journey – good luck and if you are on it – enjoy yourself – this is your new life – embrace it fully.

see you soon x

2.5 years down the line

Well, I weigh less than when the surgeon signed me off 6 months ago – not by much, and not really by choice.  ‘Fred’ is playing up and has been for the last 7/8 days.  Either any food I eat ‘doesn’t work’ so I don’t eat it or I can eat a bit and then I get tummy ache ouch!!!

Ah well I did want to go back to basics (not liquids or mush) but just concentrate on eating healthy and getting the protein in……. I doubt very much if the problems are linked to this but it is getting annoying especially with Xmas approaching.

Ah well, I’m sure it will stop eventually.  It is annoying but still, if you asked me if I regret having the op the answer is still no – I have no regrets.

see you soon x

THE picture

Hi all

Whilst I remember….. I found some old trousers of mine from before the op.  2.5 years later I get to do the pic we all want to do – me in one leg of the trousers that, at the time, were a bit too tight around the waist and hips to say the least.

Oh what a brilliant feeling.  Makes all the ‘dumping’ and icky-ness soooooo worth it.

 

see you later xx

Goodbye dietician

Hi all

I went to see the dietician at the hospital today.  It was my last time unless I have problems and then I can be re-ferred.  The dieticians at St Lukes, Bradford are lovely and so supportive.

She was very pleased with me as I’ve lost weight since the last time I saw her and overall I’ve lost 35 kg and 67% of my excess weight.  2.5 years post-op she was well pleased in that I haven’t ‘tripped up’ and put weight back on.

It was sad to say goodbye but the dieticians do come to some of the Bradford Bariatric support group who meet the last Wednesday of every month from 6pm – 8pm so I’m sure I’ll see them again.

see you soon x

a little more weight loss

Hi all

Just reporting in to say that I’ve lost 5 kg of the last couple of months.  I’d put a couple on, but now I weigh my lightest since the op.  I’ve upped my walking and register the amount of protein I eat on MyFitnessPal which is free and FitBit monitor which ‘talks’ to it.

Feeling good today

see you soon x

Hair today gone tomorrow and weight coming off again

Morning all

Sorry it’s been a while since I last posted but life sometimes gets in the way.

Firstly a report on my hair.

I did start using egg yolk etc once a week which really did seem to make my hair feel thicker but unfortunately I was letting my hair grow too long and pinning it up all the time.  This resulted in my hair starting to break and getting in a bad condition.  So….. the other week I had it cut short resulting in my hair feeling wonderful and, with the added protein, good condition again.

I’ve also started using a website called The Protein Way – which has a pure protein diet shake (the Protein Works – Diet Whey Isolate 97) with a myriad of flavours.  Each drink gives you 28g of protein which is great towards the minimum of 60 -70 g you are supposed to have per day.

 

Now to my weight.   It’s hovered around 85kg and sometimes up to 90 kg.  Due to my shoulder injury (still under investigation) I’ve had to stop the gym and playing golf 😦

So now I walk  a lot more.  I walk to work then walk to get my lift from my hubby.  I walk at the weekends and over this last month I’ve lost lost 4 kgs – I now weight 84.7 and hopefully, this will still keep going.

I did go see the dietician the other month who was pleased that, after 2 years, I was having a bit of a slip in the weight stakes but not gaining too much.  I am happy walking and use MyFitnessPal for protein monitoring and fitbit which works alongside that to measure my steps.

The op isn’t the end of watching your weight and fitness but it is a good springboard to a new life.

Speak soon x

topical protein hair treatment – Banana?

Morning all

If you’ve been reading my blog recently you will know that I have been using advocado pulp, egg yolks and honey on my hair and it is starting to pay off (plus – the biggy here – I have upped my protein food intake) together this has started to yield results and my hair is getting thicker.

Two days ago I had no advocado so substituted with mashed up banana.  Went on well and thought I was on to a cheap substitute.  How wrong could I be!

The banana took 6 washes to get out of my hair, I had to use a wide toothed comb with the conditioner to comb it out resulting in  more hair falling out 😦  Note to self and to all my followers – DON’T USE BANANA!!!! for some reason it mashes up better but sticks to your hair – won’t be repeating that one again.  It’s advocado all the way from now on – and if I can’t get hold of it – I will just use egg yolks and honey/olive oil.

Be warned 🙂

 

See you soon xx

hair protein conditioning

Morning all

I’ve been using a blend of 2 egg yolks; 1 tablespoon of runny honey and the pulp of an avocado on my hair for over 5 weeks now.

I am happy to report that my hair does feel as if it is thickening a little and the hair loss is starting to slow down.

I do realise I could just be imagining it but I don’t think so.

This concoction is full of protein and you rub it into your hair and particularly your scalp.  Use on dry hair and then pop a plastic bag on your head (not your face lol) and cover with a towel.  Leave for 30 mins then rinse off with cool water so as not to set the egg!

Go wash your hair now with your normal shampoo and conditioner and dry.

Mine feels so velvety soft when I’ve done this treatment so it’s good to do this once a week.

I will report back  after a few more weeks to let you know how my hair is doing.

see you soon x