Shopping and very cold

Shopping has unfortunately started happening, not that I don't like shopping but I wanted to wait until I was further down in weight than I am. Anyway, I am mainly buying thermals (still) or long sleeve skivy type clothes and I have quite a collection now but they are not wasted because I am layering like you wouldn't believe.
I also went out and got a pair of jeans and 2 more wastcoats to wear around home but I guess I am being somewhat good and getting most of my stuff from The Warehouse or Farmers etc.

I spoke with the surgeon about being so cold as it is driving me up the bloody wall and he assured me it was 'normal' at the part of the process as I have lost my 'insulation' quickly and my body wasn't adjusting fast enough. He reckoned next winter will be much better but I will never lose the feeling cold again......bugger!
I am killing everyone else at home and work because I am constantly rugged up and then have heaters on as well.
I am currently at home with our heatpump going plus a smaller electric heater, I'm thinking about also putting the fire on. I have on socks, slippers a waistcoat, 2 thermals and a skivy and I'm still a wee bit cold. Mind you it is raining and miserable outside which doesn't help.

After speaking with Cheryl in Hamilton on Monday about her eating (she is way ahead of me and has tried much more) I have been trying a few more things and all has gone well. Zola told me to wait for the weekends to have a piece of toast but this morning I decided to just see if it would go down OK, so I had half a piece of toast with a slice of edam cheese and tomato, heaps of salt and pepper and it was excellent. I felt full afterwards and enjoyed eating it and it is now something different I can add to my breakfast menu. I am going to have a poached egg on toast for the weekend which I am also looking forward to.
I have been slacking off with my meals a wee bit the last week or so, so must get back into it. I have been looking around for a really good pan that is large enough for a family meal but a good cast iron one or something like that so it cooks evenly and doesn't burn on the edges etc and the only one's I really like are over $200 and I just can't justify that for 1 pan. Hopefully someone will have a HUGE sale soon and I can grab one.

My water intake has been shocking and so has the exercise, so I have just walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water to drink and will also go and do some homework soon to get in some exercise..............vacuuming should do it....LOL.

Right off I go..............catch ya later.

80' GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last week: 92.3kgs
This week: 89.4kgs
Loss: 2.9kgs (total 20.7kgs)

3 major victories for me this week:

1. I'm an 80's girl and will NEVER go back to the 90's again
2. I hit over 20 kilos lost in 8 weeks
3. I went to Hamilton for my 6 week check up (it was actually 8 weeks) and all
is well and the team are really happy with my progress.

While in Hamilton, I went out with Mum (who came with me for my 6 week check up) for dinner on Sunday night and I had a chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese with a seeded mustard creamy sauce on a bed of potato mash with roast veges.........TO DIE FOR. We also had breakfast (1.5 eggs benedict without the bagel or bacon) and lunch (bacon, mushroom and potato stack) while we were away in Hamilton and all went down really well.

I also got to catch up with Cheryl who had her op on the same day as me and she looks amazing, fantastic, happy and everything else positive I can think of.
She has lost an impressive 37+ kilos and is just beeming. It was so nice to talk to someone (even though we didn't nearly have enough time to gas bag) who is at the exact same point in their journey.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, I really don't celebrate my birthday but I had some wonderful friends over from Bangkok and it was lovely to spend time with them, which just happened to fall on my birthday.
Last weekend I also had a wee get together at home (which I didn't want to do but got talked into it) so mother, father, other friends and family got to celebrate with me.

I have been asked by a few people to put some progress photo's up BUT I don't want to yet. I figured every 3 months will be good as it should be noticable then. I have the dreaded 'before' photo's and will put them up with the 3 months ones (in 4 weeks).

Right, since I'm at work and want to get home, I'd better sign off. I'll update my ticker later.

Weigh in

Last week: 92.6kg
This week: 92.3kg
Loss: .300g (total 17.8kg)

Well........................I am still suprised I lost 300grams with all the DRINKING and EATING I did, well not huge amounts of eating but definately eating the wrong things.
I am back to basic's (and the rules) now our visitors have left and my 2 seperate birthday 'parties' are over.

Yep - I turned the big 40 !!!!

Weigh in

Last week: 95.1kg
This week 92.6kg
Loss: -2.5 (total -17.5kg)

Pretty happy with that considering I have my 'mate' this week and from years gone by, I have ALWAYS put on about a kilo this particular week of the month....so pretty blinkin happy.

I have been super busy this week with work (first week of the month is alway really hectic) and it was the kids last week of school so we had 'fun day's' with mother having to make 'plates' of food which my kids insist we have to make rather than buy from the shops.....hahaha.

I also spend about 3 hours shopping as I look at every damn label on everything now.
I have however gotten some really cool stuff that I didn't even know exsisted (ie. Japanese Panko Crumbs etc). I always loved supermarket shopping but now I love it even more....LOL. I am still making some really nice meals and I am aloud salad's now so I have been having lots of these with HEAPS of coriander (my favourite herb). I seem to be eating much more fish than ever before and I think it is because it is 'safe' to eat and I have found quite a few recipe's for fish.

Oh yeah, I also had my baby's 6th birthday on Thursday and of course we all had to be up at 5am before Dad went to work so we could open presents.
He then had a 'party' of sorts on the Saturday afternoon (after Rugby) where he invited 2 mates and they played rugby down at the reserve Dad and brother, they all had a great time and ran off SOME of the lollies they had eaten. They then watched the 'This is It' Michael Jackson movie that his grandparents got him for his birthday, played more games, had pizza for dinner (I tried one piece but ate it too quick and it ended up in the toilet) and then pirate ice cream cake and then I dropped the boys home................phew..........................

One the way home I was craving a drink (alcoholic type) so I went to the bottle-o and grabed a bottle of Jim Beam Bourbon (I already had coke zero in my fridge) and got home and poured myself a drink (weak) and sat down and drank it........bliss!
I then had another one...........again............bliss!
Hubby wanted to know if I felt tipsy as I was told alcohol would be more potenent (sp?) but I felt fine, not even tipsy......but relaxed. I didn't want to push my luck so I left it at that.
We then had a visitor for dinner last night and I again had 2 x bourbon's and felt fine but left it at that. I made a big Chicken roast dinner with lemon stuffed chicken, roast potatoes, pumpkin, kumera, carrots and a vege bake with mushrooms, capsicum, brocolli, cauliflower, onions and leek, topped with a cheese sauce and a sprinkle of edam cheese on top................devine. I had about 2 spoonfulls of each and felt satisfied and 'normal'.

As the weeks go on, I am eating more normal foods and eating with the family and not feeling like such an outcast now. Getting on the treadmill still isn't any easier and I have to convince myself everytime to get on there as I have always hated exercise and an operation hasn't changed that.
Hubby in his misguided compliments has been telling me that I am gettin flappy now (which means in his words - your losing more weight) so I am looking forward to going back to Hamilton and meeting with Advanced Physio who will set me an exercise program which will include TONING.

Rambling now...............

I'd better get my house in tip top order as I have 10 people (4 adults, 6 kids) arriving sometime today for the first week of the school holidays...........can't wait!!!!
I won't get another opportunity to update until they go, so I'll catch ya all next week.

Weigh in

Last week: 96.4kg
This week: 95.1kg
Loss: 1.3kg (total 15kg)

More than happy with that. I got a bit slack towards the end of the week with my exercise and water, so am going to make sure I keep this up for this week.

Eating more variety still.
I have a lemon and herb piece of crumbed fish last night with potato/brocolli balls (home made) and a salad with lots of coriander (yum) and it was delicious.
I have really missed having my salad's and made one up on Saturday with everything I love in it and have had two goes at it and there is still 2/3 of it left and I made sure I only made a small one up,......hahahaha.

I am still dishing myself up too much. It is definately WAY less than I use to but I find I am putting too much on my plate and either the kids or my husband end up eating my leftovers.....hahaha (all healthy stuff of course).
Last night I put 1 small piece of fish on my plate, 2 brocolli balls and a small 'tong' full of salad and apart from the salad, I only ate half the fish and 1 brocolli ball AND the kids told me how little my meal looked to start with....LOL.

My eldest boy (8 years) keeps telling me how 'lovely' I look now I am eating healthy which always brings a tear to my eye. I never REALLY realised how much all my dieting etc affected them and how much they noticed things before I had my op. All the kids know is that Mum had to have something in her tummy fixed and now she can only eat little bits of healthy food. I am really suprised that they are eating pretty much what I am now. I always just assumed they wouldn't eat this and that but they actually are enjoying my new healthy menu.

HRV
Well the 3 hrv boys turned up at 8.30am on Friday morning and were gone again by 10.15am with it all installed. I am sitting here now looking out my windows at the front of my house (I have big sliding doors/windows) and they are CLEAR. I am looking at 3 houses across the road which all have fogged up windows but not us...yay!
The house is definatley more 'even' if that makes sense. We definately had rooms which were freezing and rooms which were OK with temperatures but now they all seem similar (which has pleased my hubby as he is superstitious and was sure there were ghosts in the house......hahahaha). They reckon by next year we should see the benefits as far as the house being completely dried out but I am happy so far.

Off to the treadmill I go............

Bits and Bobs

HRV SYSTEMShit Tracey - don't tell me the HRV systems are crap after I just paid them over $3,500 and they are due at 8.30am to install it.
SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT HRV............PLEASE.

Anne - food in a minute - smoked Fish Pie Recipe:

1 small onion
535g Watties Very Special Creamy Corn Soup
1/2 cup frozen pea
1/4 cup parsley
zest of 1 lemon (this added a really nice taste)
400g tin smoked fish
450g pkt Wattie's frozen Homestyle Mashed potato

Fry onion until clear, pour in corn soup, peas, lemon zest, stir over heat for 2 minutes. Stil in smoked fish (break it up) and parsley.
Pour into a medium oven-proof dish and place mashed potato patties onto top, overlapping.
Place in oven (preheated 180oC) for 25 - 30 minutes. Done.

Janine - Vodka over wine
Interesting that you say that 1 glass of wine knocks you over but your fine with vodka. I was also (pre-op) the same with bourbon. David (surgeon) told me I could still drink my bourbon and coke but I wasn't to drink the pre-mixes and had to mix my own with bourbon and either diet coke or coke zero.
As we are going to a winery for my birthday (there's heaps up here in the Hawkes Bay but I have chosen Crab Farm) I guess it will have to be wine.

I think that's it?
Oh yeah the WLS get together.............can't remember who asked me about this but I haven't decided yet. I have a girlfriend up here who has also had the surgery (4 years ago) and she is keen to come but I'm not 100% sure yet.

Right, that's me............night.

Drinkies are good to go!

Well I spoke to Zola yesterday and asked her what can I be eating now that I'm going into my 5th week post op and she said, apart from bread, rice and pasta.....everything! I can try everything now but just be careful.

I also asked her about having a wine on my birthday (another 2 weeks away) and she said "yep but maybe just have the one" which suits me fine. I haven't had a drink for so long that one is proberly all I'm going to need....hahaha. Plus I still have to go to work that night (bummer eh?) so won't be able to go overboard.

I have been dying for a salad so that's the first thing I'm going to make today. Haven't decided what protein I'll have with it but I'm off to the supermarket so I'll have a look there. I'm really loving fish (seafood in general) at the moment but I did try a chicken thigh yesterday for lunch (with steamed veges) and it went down OK but it did feel uncomfortable for about half an hour which I didn't like but Zola reckons the more I eat it the less uncomfortable it will be.

I am sitting here in a huge jacket with my heater on,,,,,,,,,,,, this house is sooooooo cold but tomorrow morning I am getting a HRV installed and can't wait.

I did get a DVS when I was in Wellington and it was brilliant but we rang them about 2.5 weeks ago (same time as HRV) about someone coming out to give us a quote and never heard back from them (I hate bad customer service) so HRV it is.

I'm rambling now, so I'll jump in the car and go and get some shopping.

Fish Pie again for Tea

I just love fish pie but I'm sure my family is getting sick of it....TOO BAD FOR THEM...LOL.

I am trying the 'food in a minute' one I seen off the TV, looks yum so I will have to wait and see tonight.

All food has been good this week. I had a poached egg for breakfast this morning and my husband had a huge big breakfast (2 x eggs, 3 x bacon, 2 x sausages, 2 x hash browns and 2 x toast) and his plate was overflowing. I looked at him and said "remember when I use to eat more than you and look at our plates now", we both had a giggle at the differences now.

My 2 oldest sisters sent me up some clothes (they are both smaller than me - I am the youngest but was ALWAYS the fattest). Anyway I reckon half of them were still a bit small (size 16 & 18) but the other half were either too big or fit.....brilliant!

I really don't think I am going to need to buy any clothes for quite a few months which is great. I am looking at all the winter fashion now and thinking that it will have to wait until next year.

So I have a huge 'fat' pile of clothes already and the most suprising thing is that I have grown out of 3 or 4 of my bra's.....hahaha. My cup size is still the same but the 'back' measurements have come down so that size is shrinking. Luckily when I last lost lots of weight (lowest 84.3kg ?? I think) I went out and bought lots of 'pretty' bra's and I have managed to get 1 or 2 out. It feels so nice to put on something pretty rather than just plain white or black.

I am still madly cooking up a storm and have just remembered that I marinated some chicken thighs with garlic, ginger, lemon juice and chilli for tea tonight.....oops hopefully everyone is hungry - chicken and fish pie....hahaha.

Getting to 'like' my treadmill more and more everyday.
A goal I have set myself is that I will be running on it before the end of August.

Weigh in

Last week - 97.6kg
This week - 96.4kg
Loss this week - 1.2kg (total 13.7kg)

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY this week.

Had another night of food not staying down - indian curry chicken drumstick.
We did the drumsticks in the crockpot so they were nice and tender and then added an indian sauce we have used for years (and love). It was high in fat but I made sure I didn't have any of the sauce, only what was on the drumstick but within a few minutes I was off to the loo.........bugger.

Did 4 days on the treadmill which is also suprising as well as walking the kids (and dog) to school which is only a 20 minutes walk both way but better than nothing.

I have tried a few more meals that HAVE stayed down, including last nights dinner which was a beef casserole with mashed spuds. I have also changed 'cruskit' to sakata crackers with different toppings as it seems I'm having more......hahaha.
I made pumpkin, celery and kumera soup yesterday for lunch and that was devine.

I must admit though, I am still having to remind myself to eat as I'm not getting hungry which is the weirdest feeling.

It was another wet days yesterday so the kids and I made the soup and then double chocolate chip muffins with chocolate icing and sprinklings.

So 4 weeks down (going into week 5) and I'm starting to feel more 'normal' as I'm starting to have more variety in my meals.

2 more weeks and I can have a drink.......hahaha, I'd love a glass of wine.

Right I've just got off the treadmill and now need to have breakfast (weetbix with yoghurt and protein powder).

Weigh in

Last week: 98.9kg
This week: 97.6kg
Loss: 1.3kg (total loss: 12.5kg)

Someone asked me how much this op cost.
$18,500.00 and I reckon it is worth every penny.
I had 2 other procedures done but this was just for the bypass.
I am with Southern Cross Health insurance so I get an ex-gratia payment of $5,000 which helps (my bank manager agreed).

Even though there are certain 'rules' to this operation, I no longer feel I'm on a diet. For the 1st time in about 25 years, I'm not on some sort of a diet and it feels liberating.

I had a lovely meal with my family last night and felt like a 'normal' person with what I was eating. I am really enjoying trying new foods and not feeling like I'm missing out with anything.
Example: Yesterday was a horrible cold, rainy day so the kids and I stayed indoors and baked. We made a chocolate cake and chocolate chip muffins and I didn't feel like I had to lick the bowl out.....LOL

LIBERATING................

1st reaction

SEAFOOD CHOWDER

I am so peeved that I had a reaction to the seafood chowder I made last night, I was SO looking forward to it.
I made it with the seafood, cooked it in the fish stock and then added the lite coconut milk and thickened with cornflour. Tasted fantastic (while eating it), everyone raved about how lite and tasty it was but unfortunately within 5 minutes of eating it I was in the loo. I then got very, very hot and had to get changed into a summer top (I had thermals and 3 other layers on before that as I was cold).
So I'm guessing that I won't try that for another couple of months and then maybe it may agree with me a bit more.

But I won't give up, tonight I'm thinking of making a nice hoki fillet steamed in foil with corriander, lime and chilli with either brocolli balls (potato and brocolli mash with mozzarella cheese in the middle, rolled into a ball and rolled in breadcrumbs then baked in the oven) or a vegetable bake of some sort.

Anyway I'm off to drink more water and then jump on my treadmill.

Food glorious food.........and exercise!

I am sitting here with my trusty cruskit with a big piece of ham on it and a slice of edam cheese.............yummo and no problems going down.
Everything I have tried I have been very careful with and so far there hasn't been one problem. I haven't had any bad effects from anything I've tried and am really enjoying now making myself special tasty meals.

Being 'week 3' I have I am only going the the loo (#2's) once a week now which Zola reckons is OK but it feels really weird to me as I have ALWAYS been a very regular once a day girl.

I have also been drinking my water which has gotten easier as I now have a 'mizone' bottle which has a brilliant spout on it.

EXERCISE!
This is a word that has ALWAYS scared me. I hate, hate, hate exercise but know it is essential and has to be done. A couple of years ago I bought a treadmill which I used regularly for about 2 or 3 months and it has been an oversized coat hanger ever since....BUT on Thursday I was watching THE BIGGEST LOSER on TV and the girl who won it last session (Michelle - I loved her) said something about having balance and you just HAVE to have time for exercise or you are just going to go back to the way you were. One of the contestants had a gastric bypass years ago and was huge again which also scared me so I instantly got off that bloody couch and dusted off the treadmill and jumped on. There is NO WAY I am ever going back to what I was and getting this op is a 'tool' only and if I don't change my ways (food & exercise) I will put weight back on and there ain't no way I am going back there SISTER!!!!! (stepping off soap box).
So I managed 15 minutes both Thursday and Friday and have yet to jump on today as we have just gotten back from rugby (my son scored 6 tries out of the 11 their team made - very proud mum) and have been cleaning the house as we have guests tonight - BUT I WILL GET ON IT TODAY. Plus I always feel better once I step off knowing I have done something for myself and it didn't kill me after all.

I am starting to get a 'too big' pile in my wardrobe now. 1 or 2 items that I put away basically as soon as I got home from hospital but now a few more after a couple of people at work told me that what I was wearing was baggy.....hehehe baggy, love it.

I haven't gotten around to making that seafood chowder yet BUT tonight is the night as we are having guests and they love seafood. It has been quite cold here the last week or so, so I reckon the fire blazing, a hot bowl of chowder while watching the rugby is going to be a perfect night.

Right I'd better get back to my cleaning............*sigh* a women's work is never done.

Week 2 - All going well

Last Week: 101.3kg
This week: 98.9kg
Loss: 2.4kg (week 2)

Still can't believe that. Its actually coming off!! I will NEVER be over 100kgs again..................NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have put on 400g in the last 5 days as I'm not 'going' to the loo again. I'll have to get that benefibre into me again.

I'm quite excited about this week as I'm allowed to start eating more 'normal' food. Its called the 'soft solids' week and basically its trial and error with overcooked vege's and soft meat.....mmmmmmm sounds yummy hahaha.

I made a fish pie last night which I'm going to try today and I also have a fabulous seafood chowder recipe (thanks Cara) which I am definately having in a few days.
I just intent to eat with my family this week (rather than my own seperate little meal) and just have the mashed potato, vege's and whatever meat they are having.
I have gotten lots of fish and chicken thighs as these seem to be the theme with new post op'ers.

My usual daily food so far has been:

Breakfast: 1 weetbix, 4 tsp plain yoghurt, 2 tsp strawberry protein powder.
I usually get through about 2/3 of it which is about 4 or 5 teaspoons.

Lunch: 1 Lite cruskit with different toppings, like, vegemite and cream cheese or tuna and cottage cheese or garlic roasted hummus and grated edam cheese....yum.

Dinner: 2 - 3 'ice cubes' of either lamb or chicken with vegetables (I made these up pre-op with a pot of vegetables with either chicken or lamb added, mixed up to mush and then frozen into ice cubes).
Last night I had 2 lamb ice cubes with 2 tsp of mashed potato and 1 tsp of mustard sauce (family had corned silverside with mustard sauce) and it went down beautifully but again I was only able to eat about 2/3 of it.

I don't snack at all (one of the rules - 3 meals a day only) and I have gone from about 8 cups of coffee a day with 1 sugar to 2 or 3 half cups of coffee with 2 sugar tablets and trim milk of course.

I am having a REALLY COOL dilema with my clothes this week as they are looking too big for me and a bit 'daggy' but my next size down are still a wee bit snug.
I have also realised that when I got down to my lowest a couple of years ago (84.3kg) it was summer which means I have HEAPS of smaller summer clothes but bugger all winter clothes.
I am currently FREEZING all of the time, even with the fire and everyother heater in the house going and have been out and got myself another pair of long casual pants and thermals but I'm still cold.
Not that I'm complaining (much) as I realise the layers are now (and forever) coming off and I LOVE THAT feeling, so I'll just live with it.
I keep imagining myself in a pretty summer dress which has always been a dream of mine, to wear a pretty summer dress. As I am so short (5f2") I have never been able to wear a dress especially with my weight as I looked ridiculous and shorter than I actually was. But BRING IT ON sister, I WILL be in a dress by Christmas.

Right I'm off to have my weetbix for breakfast (practically the only cereal I can have that falls within the sugar/fat guidelines). I have found a new variety "Wild Berry Bites" which I'm trying this morning. It have mixed berrys which will be a nice change from the plain weetbix.

Back at work

Well it was my first night back at work last night and it was like I'd never been away (don't ya hate that!).

They had got me a beautiful plant (lilly) and a gorgeous scented candle on a class plate which was lovely.

Had a call from the surgeons office yesterday checking on my progress.
All is still well and I have been told the uncomfortable feeling I'm getting when I drink my water is likely from it being so cold (straight from the fridge), so I am now drinking it at room temperature and it seems fine.
One thing I didn't mention (which I didn't think of at the time) is that when I eat, I have no trouble getting the food down but usually when I've had enough, I get these sharp pains in my left shoulder blade..............weird eh? They go after a few minutes but I must remember to ask about them next time.

Weight is still declining which is fabulous, I'll only put a weekly amount in though on a Monday.

Queens Birthday weekend coming up which means Monday off......yay!
We aren't going away anywhere but have several visitors over the course of the weekend which is always great.

Right best I get organised for the day..............chow

1 week post op

100kgs exactly.................gobsmacked!!

Tomorrow I'll be back in double digits, AWESOME!

STILL feeling amazing, not tired, food going down beautifully, not feeling like I'm "missing out" at all.

Wounds are healing really well, clothes are getting smaller.

Short, Sweet, Positive...........I like it.

1st weigh in

It's officially 1 week since my op tomorrow (Tuesday) but I just love Monday morning weigh in's, so Monday it will be.

Start weight was 110.1kgs - today 101.3kgs which is a loss of 8.8kgs (which included my pre-op diet).

I will put a weekly weigh, over to the right of my page so you can see how I'm going (if your interested....LOL).

Again, feeling amazing today with no pain. Slept like a baby and got up, got the kids organised for school, took them to school, came home and had some breakfast and a cup of coffee and just love being back to my normal routine.

My little Lucy (Fox Terrier) has sliced her wee paw open on something so I have bandaged it and I will be taking her off to the vet very soon.

Home

Arrived home yesterday afternoon and I am feeling amazing. I'm not on any drugs, mind you they only give you panadol after the op which amazes me but I'm feeling so great, I don't even need these.

The op went 'nearly' perfect, while I was on the operating table Dr Shroeder found I had a large Hiatas Hernia which he fixed as well as doing the tubular ligation and gastric bypass that did go perfectly. Triple whammy!

My weight this morning was 101.7kg which is a total loss so far of 8.4kgs.

I have been having yoghurt with mashed banana for breakfast and 1/2 cruskit for lunch with either cottage cheese or vegemite and cream cheese....yummmmmm.
For dinner last night I had one of my 'ice cubes' I made up before I went away with consisted of lamb steaks, potatoes, kumera, celery, leek, mushrooms, silverbeat and anything else I could think of, all blended into baby food consistancy and frozen into ice cubes.

I am suppose to be drinking 1 - 2L water a day but am struggling with this a wee bit, only because it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable when I drink water. I'm sure this will get better over time.

I met the most amazing ladies in hospital, 3 in total but 2 that I really got to know well and we had a ball in hosptial. We all marched up and down the corridors together and we even got in trouble one night as they were both in my room watching the final of American Idol and we were laughing so much the nurse closed our door and reminded us we were in a hospital................hahahaha.

Well that's all I can think of at the moment. I've just made a mean beef casserole with baked greens for dinner (for the rest of the family) and I'm now going to sit down and read my book for a while............chow.

5.3kg gone

Not bad for 12 days eh?

I had stalled for about 5 days and was getting quite down about it but Zola from Hamilton reassured me it would start moving again which it has. Still only 1 (#2's) toilet visit is 6 days though. Plus I still have 2 days to go which I'm sure will see a bit more coming off.

Leaving tomorrow for Hamilton, have to be up there to get blood tests done.
Op Tuesday - admission 7.30am, operation approx 10.30am......nice and early.

REALLY REALLY excited, just want it done and dusted now.

Got all my 'lists' done for the family, wherther they use them or not is another thing but at least I know my bit is done.

I'll be back once I'm on the 'other side'. I'm not taking my PC with me while I'm up there, so won't be able to update until I'm home again.........Saturday 29th.

BYE *waves*

The scales are going down

CHEATED on Saturday night. The family had pizza and I had 3 pieces, which is much better than my usual 8 but still, I beat myself up a bit for caving.

Drank a heap of water afterwards hoping this would wash it all away.....hahaha.

The scales are down again this morning to 105.8kg, which is a loss of 4.3kg in a week (awesome). I was asked to lose 2 - 4kgs before the op so that's one target I have hit. Another week to go, so lets see how much more I can lose.

Went through something weird last night - felt all down and depressed which ISN'T like me at all but have perked up again this morning. Don't know what it was but hope it doesn't come back.

This time next week I will be taking my life into my own hands by letting my Mother drive me to Hamilton (she's 70years old and thinks she is the only person on the road...LOL).

Right off I go..........talk later.

Saturday morrning

106kg - 4.1kg loss in 4 days (gotta love that!).

The optifast isn't bad at all, I couldn't do it long term though (2 weeks will be enough). I haven't been hungry once and haven't craved anything.

I remember when a friend of mine (Jo - Just4Jo) was having her op and her Mum (Jenny)did the pre-op with her. I also wanted to support her in some way and I had some of my protein shakes, so suggested I also do the pre-op with her (my version).
Gotta say now I'm actually doing the Optifast version - what I did was NOTHING like what I'm doing now.
From memory I think I lost 3 or 4kgs in the 2 weeks but my head space wasn't in the right place.............I realise that now. I had absolutely NO idea what Jo was going through.

When I did it, I knew that I could have a burger the day after I finished (which I proberly did) and it was only 2 weeks out of my life but now I realise that this IS the LAST diet I will ever do and I am NEVER going to be physically able to eat as I have all of my life (which isn't a bad thing). So it is easier in some ways but much harder in others. I am so excited I am finally able to sort this bloody weight issue out that has dominated most of my life but at the same time I have this feeling of great loss because this is the only way I have known (eating habits etc) and that is all going to change DRAMATICALLY.

Weird.................

Right - glad I got that off my mind, feel much better now.

It's 7.50am Saturday morning and I have my little 'All Black' playing rugby at 9am but we have to be there at 8.40am and it is cold and miserable today (very unusual for Napier let me tell you!). It has been raining and looks like it might just start up again as I get in the middle of the field to watch my little fella play.

Hubby is golfing after work (he's working in this weather poor thing) and if you have a golf mad person you know (Jo - you know my pain eh?) it can be hailing with thunder and lightning and he will still go and play - MAD! So at least I'll have a nice quite afternoon, we recorded 'GREASE' on Sky during the week and Hubby and the boys sat down and watched it (VERY LOUD WITH POPCORN) and they are hooked. I'm guessing this will be them this afternoon and I will undoubtedly re-read my information pack and hospital pack about my op (I'm an information junkie).

PRE-OP DIET - LAST DIET I'LL EVERY GO ON!

107.8kg which is 200g heavier than last week but today's weight was done fully clothed..........LOL (which I figured will be done this way with my surgeon in 2 weeks). I'm positive that if I'd weighed myself first thing this morning - naked - I would have easily lost more weight compared to last week, but now we will never know. I am also going to measure myself as soon as I can find that blinkin measuring tape.

I'm feeling fabulous and positive and excited.

Hubby is really nervous and keeps telling mes so, which isn't helping me much but I know it makes him feel better to tell me.
I had a mishap when I broke my leg many years ago and asperated in the operating theatre and ended up in intensive care for a couple of days......this is why he is so nervous.........I of course didn't feel a thing so woke up quite happy and didn't know what all the fuss was about.
Mind you, I was about 10kg heavier at least, which didn't help.

I had my first Optifast chocolate shake this morning for breakfast and it was OK, I've had better....hahaha.

My Mum has decided to do the optifast diet with me (for support) bless her but I'm guessing it will be much harder for her as there is no 'prize' at the end of the fortnight like there is for me.
I hope she does really well.

Right I'm off to hang some curtains that I bought about 6 weeks ago. I finally got them out and ironed them last week and they have been sitting on my couch ever since.
I HATE hanging curtains, hate, hate, hate. Oh well, its gotta be done.

Love Fridays

109.5kg flashed up at me this morning, which means a 2.2kg loss since Monday (5 days) which is brilliant.

I have made a huge salad with everything I can think of in it and then have just been having some protein (prawns, ham or eggs) with it and it is so simple. I am always brilliant when starting out a diet so am doing really well ..... its long term that kicks my butt. Won't have to worry about that soon eh?

I received my Hospital/Administration pack from my surgeon today with all the do's and don't before surgery as well as blood tests I need and bills I need to pay etc.
I am so stoked to think it is under a month now..........I seems to be taking FOREVER.

Back to my title...............I love Friday's because I get a whole 2 days off.
Admittedly I also work part time (4 hours per day) but I still look forward to it.
Mind you, in saying that the kids sports have now started up so I am usually on a rugby field somewhere in my area arounnd 8 - 8.30am on a Saturday morning.

Hi ho Hi ho, its off to work I go. Have a lovely weekend.

Going great guns

All's well with me replacing 1 meal with my protein shakes (which I love).

I'm replacing dinner with my shake which is fantastic as I don't finish work unit 9pm and usually eat when I get home which is WAY too late to eat and I usually end up staying up half the night until it goes down or I get wicked reflux.

I have been having either toast or a muffin with eggs for breakfast and some sort of protein (ham Monday, prawns Tuesday and today) with a fresh crisp salad........yum!.

When I weighed myself on Monday morning I was 111.7kg and this morning I was sitting at 110.1kgs which is exactly what I weighed a month ago at the surgeon's office (-1.6kg). So anything I lose from now will count towards the 4kg's I am required to lose beforfe surgery.

Had my girlfriend over this morning for a coffee who had the bypass done 4 years ago and it still amazes me how little she can eat (we had eggs benedict for breakfast).
I had 2 and she only wanted 1 and then only ate half of that and was full.....I still find that hard to believe....LOL

Righto I'm off to The Warehouse to finally buy some bar stools I have been waiting for.

Might get around to putting my ticker back up at some stage as well.

Feeling a little guilty

I had a call from the nutritionist in Hamilton yesterday just checking in on what I'm up to and if I'm putting any of the things explained to me into practic (ie. checking supermarket labels, monitoring my food intake etc) to which I told her I am.

She also asked me if I was going to start the optifast diet on Monday (this is the pre-op diet I have to do 2 weeks prior to my op to reduce the size of my liver which will make the operation easier for the surgeon - I'm all for that!) and I said to her that I'm not due to start the optifast until the 11th May, at least another 2 weeks away. She then said that I am able to start it at an earier date and the longer I'm on it the better and she could send me the extra supplies I would need (as I only purchased enough for my 2 weeks).

This threw me for a 6. WHY would I want to do that???? Well, I actually know why after she explained it to me but it came out of the blue, I wasn't expecting it and now I'm in a bit of a fluster about whether I should or not. The surgeon only suggested 2 weeks prior and I have siked myself up for starting it on the 11th May.
Grrrrrrr I'm a bit confused now.

I do have another protein shake (which is too high in sugar for after the op) which is called Naturally Slim (by Healtheries) which is the only protein shake I really loved when dieting, so I suggested I start suplementing a meal or 2 with this leading up to the 'offical' optifast diet. She said that would be fine but now I have this feeling that this is all happening now when I thought I still had a couple of weeks up my sleeve - does that make sense???

So anyway, I have my sister and brother-in-law, my parents and an ex brother-in-law and niece coming for a BBQ tonight. My plan is that I am going to drink the rest of my RTD's (premix alcohol) left in the fridge as well as treat myself to a huge steak (won't be eating that for a while) and some other wee treats, namely garlic bread and nibbles and then that's it!

Tomorrow will be a very quiet day and then Monday I'm going to cut out the alcohol, bread and sugar plus start supplementing my dinner with a protein shake and only having cereal for breaky (protein and salad/veges) for lunch.
THAT should get the ball rolling.
I will weigh myself Monday morning and take photo's and start weekly tracking.

That's the plan..............

All approved

Heard back from Southern Cross that I get a $5,000 one off payment towards my op (yeah!) plus I'm also having a tubular ligation at the same time and all of this cost is covered (double yeah!)..............might as well do as much as he can while he's in there eh......LOL

I've also applied and got approved my leave for May. I am only taking 8 days (with a weekend inbetween) as I only work part time (sitting at a desk) and with David's (surgeon) input he though this would be fine.

I've managed to put on another kilo since going to Hamilton which is a real bummer because I have been trying not to do the 'last supper' thing where I'm eating everything in sight because after May 25th, I'm going to be very limited for quite a while but it is really hard. Bread is my downfall and I know I'm not going to be able to eat much (if not any) of this for at least 6 months and I'm having one of those "losing an old friend" type of thing going on and eat bread more regularly now than in the past.

I have been trying some of the 'therepist' tips which are working quite well.

I'm obviously a HUGE eater and ALWAYS have a second plate of dinner or whatever, so one of the things she said to me was - "after your first plate of food, go and brush your teeth as you won't feel like anything to eat after that" and it works.
Another one was "while making food (dinner or whatever) alway have either a mint or a piece of gum in your mouth and then you won't pick" another brilliant idea.
Amazing how something so simple makes sense but you don't think of it until someone mentions it.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it earlier but my Mum came to the appointments with me and asked David which is the best diet to do (rather than the op) and he said instantly THE SOUTH BEACH DIET. Apparently it combines the Atkins diet with another one (can't think of it right now) and it is the best. He said Weight Watchers is very good but mainly focusses on low fat rather than sugar intake. Sugar intake is as harmful if not more that a fatty diet and he reckons people just don't understand this and are not being told. He reckons if you eliminate sugar from your diet (natural sugars as well - ie sugary fruits) the weight would melt off you (wouldn't that be nice!).
So my Mum has checked the local libraries and bookstores and can't find it, so we are going to either order one or get one off trademe (seems to be a few on there) and she's going to give it a go.


Well the rest of my day consists of taking the lovely hair off from above my lip and dying my rapidly greying hair....hoo hum.

Oh yeah weight stuff

Forgot to say that they reckon after 12 months I should be down to about 71kg.....nice! I of course have a figure in my head which is 65kgs as this is the top of my healthy BMI range...........time will tell.

I'm easy on this one and will wait and see how I go. I'll hopefully get everything right and not make myself too sick along the way.

Tuesday 25th May 2010.......

The last day I ever go on a diet..................Major sigh, that sounds good to me!

Went and met the team in Hamilton and they are all lovely. The surgeon even offered to tie my tubes for free while he was in there.........sounds good to me, thank you very much!

I start the pre-op diet on the 11th May so I am now starting the countdown, only 61 days until pre-op diet and 75 day until MAJOR LIFE CHANGING operation.

Doctors scales = 108.2kg
My home scales = 110.1kg (much prefer his obviously)
1.9kg difference.

Expected to lose a minimum of 2 - 4kgs on the 2 week optifast diet before surgery......no sweat.

Nearly a year has gone by...........

WOW I haven't updated since last April................can anyone say 'slack arse'.

Well I have made some major decisions since last April (by the way, I am 500g heavier at 107.7kgs now) and the biggest one is that I have decided to have a gastric bypass. With a BMI of 44, I am a perfect candidat (spelling?)and am hoping for big things.

I know of 5 other people who have had it now and all those people are 100% happy with their decision and look and feel 100% better............I want that too.

I have been thinking about it (seriously) for about 4 months but the final push for me was when my mother (who turned 70 years old 4 days ago) returned from Australia and on her second day back I had to take her to weight watchers to re-join (for the 100th plus time) so she could lose the weight she had put back on (for th 100th plus time). I sat there in the car while she went up to re-join and thought to myself "I don't want to be in this same situation when I'm 70!". I turn 40 this year and instead of a big party etc, I'm going to do something for myself and I have researched and put alot of effort into getting to this decision, so bugger it.......I deserve it and I'm going to do it.

Luckily for me I have a very supportive husband and family so there has been no negative's so far. I have my first appointment with the surgeon and his team on the 10th March and can't wait.
I am also working part time now (about 4 months now) and spoke to my boss and he is also very supportive and has no problem giving me time off which is awesome as I haven't accummulated enough yet.

So that's my big news....................never a dull moment in this household.

I'm still loving the Hawkes Bay and everyone (kids, hubby, father) are all settled and really happy. We have been here 2 years now (time fly's ha?) and have made some lovely friends.

Hoping to update more frequently in the future.

Feeling more positive

Sat down and thought about what gives me inspiration and the short answer is - Bloggers.

I am trying to get back into reading (and commenting) more often as I love the support blogging gives me, so I try and give a bit of that back.

I weighed in at 107.2kgs yesterday (Monday morning) and was obviously horrified but optimistic.

I know how to lose the weight and I WILL - End of Story!
I have quite a few big events coming up (Husband's 40th, Husband's school reunion, my 40th, sister's 50th, Mum's 70th and my babies 5th birthday in 2 months) and I want to feel good about myself, have photo's taken without cringing and enjoy myself.

I've decided the best way to do this will take 3 initial steps, first of all STOP BOOZING. I have gotten into a really bad habit of having a couple of drinks most nights and then a couple more on the weekend. I love wine but it doesn't love me so I went back to my original love (bourbon & coke) and it is FULL of sugar plus I can drink TONNES of the stuff.

Second thing is reduce my carbs - mainly BREAD! This is my biggest challenge as I am married to the ultimate BREAD MAN and I seem to be surrounded by bread (fresh, grainy, yummy bread) all day, everyday. This is going to take strength.

And thirdly I need to start doing some form of exercise - anything at the moment will be better than nothing. I have my beloved treadmill sitting here which I really want to get on but am too damn lazy so I figure I will just have to play with the kids more in the backyard to start with until I lose a bit of weight and feel like I can do more than 4 minutes on the damn thing (sounds like an excuse but that's how I'm feeling at present).

I figure if I just set myself 3 things to do, it won't kill me........right?

I'ts now Wednesday morning (12.05am) and since I started this post Tuesday night, I'd better get my butt into bed.

FEELIN GREAT, FEELIN POSITIVE, LONG MAY IT CONTINUE.

Night night.........

Whoa is me update

Shit March 12 was the last time I updated - SLACKER!

It amazes me that I have to hit rock bottom (or very close to it) before I get myself into action to lose this bloody weight. I jumped on the scales this morning 106.7kg....HELL. What was it, 3 years ago when I hit 110kgs that I couldn't take it anymore and lost the weight (got down to 86.3kg) and now I've managed to creep back up to 106.7kg *sigh* man this weightloss stuff sucks eh?

I know where I'm going wrong (food basically and the shit I'm eating plus the alcohol doesn't help either - oh and don't forget NO EXERCISE) and I know how to lose weight (I've done it dozen's of times) but I just don't. Its very frustrating because I know I can do it (again - I've done it a thousand times) but I just don't ----- why?

When I do get to a weight I'm proud of (with still more to go) and I'm feeling really good about myself I relax and relaxing for me equals trouble. I love it when I'm eating healthy and exercising (mainly because I can exercise and don't feel like a total blob) but I just don't seem to be able to hang onto that feeling.

STORY OF MY LIFE.

I really don't know what to do with myself. All the goals I set myself just disappear and I don't care. I don't know how to stop this yoyo dieting or 'lifestyle change' as alot of people like to call it but basically its dieting for me because I don't make a lifestyle change if I can go back to where I've come from.

Righto, I've finished feeling sorry for myself (for now), I'm going to look up my local weight watchers meeting and think about going back as the only time I lose any substantial amount of weight it is with weight watchers.

My Mum and two older sisters (all overweight) decided 5 weeks ago that we would all support each other and post our weights everyweek so we could see how we are going.
We all had a great first week but since then we have put on everyweek, my eldest sister has given up posting her weight all together.........wonder where I get this weight problem from...hahahaha.

On a brighter note, I have my mother in law (who I get on with famously) and 3 nephew's arriving tomorrow for a week (last week of the school holiday's) and I am looking forward to it as they are great kids (10, 12 & 16) and my mother in law is a fantastic cook and will hopefully give me a break over the week YAY.

Hubby and I get 3 days off a year with our business and 2 of them were Easter Friday and Easter Sunday, so we got our driver to work on Saturday and we headed off to Masterton to visit some old friends. We stayed at a fabulous revamped Solway Park Hotel which is very family friendly and apart from visiting our friend, we didn't leave the complex. There was a driving range (hubby was happy), a trampoline, indoor and outdoor pool (they only used the indoor - bit chilly), spa, games room (which was right next to the bar) and the room was 2 bedrooms with a kitchen and a TV in every room (kids loved it). I'll attach some photo's.

Apart from that it has been the same old thing up here. Loving the Hawkes Bay, loving our new lifestyle and very very happy (apart from the weight of course). Still getting lots of visitors but we love it.

The house is slowly getting donw (between visitors), we have now completed the tiles in the loo and all I need now is something to go up on the wall.
Dad's place has had the bathroom revamped (new floor, toilet and vanity) and just needs his bedroom recarpeted and that's him done.

Our kitchen is the next thing on the agenda but we have been putting it off as it is a major job and we know that once we start, we can't stop. The loungeroom is all done except for new curtains (I just haven't seen the perfect one's yet) and the hallway just needs some pictures or photo's up so it looks less boring.

Okey Dokey I'd better get myself off to bed, I'll just attach some photo's first.
Hope everyone is well, I try and get around to see how everyone is but I have been a bit slack.

Crikey its been forever

WOW I didn't realise it had been January since I last updated - what a slacker.

Weights up (103.9kgs putting me back to 29/12/08) which means I didn't get my new top when Mum was here from Oz.
I did however manage to raid her suitcase and found 2 new tops she had that I loved, so she let me have them......LOL.

I have had visitor after visitor and even though I do really love having people stay - I'M OVER IT!!

The last lot of guests (3 couples up from Wellington) came for the Lionel Richie concert at the Mission Estate Winery that got cancelled after us sitting in the pouring rain for nearly 2 hours. Mind you, we had had quite a bit to drink by them and had resigned ourselves to the fact that it didn't matter what we did we were soaked to the bone, so we actually ended up having a great time (even without Lionel). We ended up coming back home, had a huge feed of everything you could think of and then decided nightclubbing at midnight was a great idea..........ah NOT!

Apart from that there hasn't been a great deal going on, just the usual (kids to school, clean the house, data entry for a couple of hours a day blah blah blah).

Sorry this is such a boring post after such a long time....hahaha

I bought some weight watchers cereal and yoghurt (again) and am going back to basics with my food. The only way I have ever lost weight is on weight watchers (even at home by myself) so I will go back to the tried and true method.

Trying not to stress too much about it but am just soooooooo sick of being in this situation again this year when I promised myself I would be at goal and enjoying life now.

Andrew's 40th in August so I am going to try and lose as much as possible (not putting a number on it) by then.

Over and out.

Weigh in day - Day 14

101.4kgs which is a loss of 600grams this week.

How do I feel about that......*taps fore finger on chin* I dunno really???

Yes I lost 600 grams which is fabulous but I was mostly on par with my shakes etc this week and expected WAY MORE, anyway a loss is a loss is a loss....right.

So 1.8kgs down in the past fortnight.....excellent!!

My mate goes for her op tomorrow and I am thinking about her constantly *waves*.
She has done brilliantly on her pre-op diet for the past fortnight and just continues to blow me away.

Had more visitors leave today and then we should have another one on Tuesday (only for a day) and then nobody for a week and a half.

Adam went back to kindy today and was so excited as he has missed his mates.

Reece goes back next Monday and I am really excited as he is driving me nuts with his questions "what can I do now", "I'm bored", "when can I go back to school"....6 weeks is WAY too long a holiday for that one.

Anyway I can't hang around here all day, I have work to do.

Day 13 (of 14)

Ok the scales were back down a wee bit this morning (after my pill worked) so I'm pleased about that.
The weather has been really hot so I drank about 3 litres of water yesterday - no kidding!

We are having a BBQ tonight which is great because I'm ready for a nice big salad (which I haven't had for a few days) and a juicy piece of steak.....yum.

I have a 21st to go to tonight but I've bailed out as we have my father-in-law here (who was also invited) and we haven't seen him in 5 years so we really want some quiet time with him as he is leaving for Aussie tomorrow.
PLUS I am WAY PAST going to 21st, I enjoyed it in my 20's but now I'm nearly 40 I think I'll pass. There is going to be 70+ people and most of them (at least 50) are the birthday boys age....eeeek!

Another beautiful day in Hawkes Bay (30+ degrees) and I am very comfortable now walking around in singlet tops. I'm really pissed at myself that I haven't worn singlet tops for YEARS (since my early teens) because I had such a hang up on how big my arms were (still are but I don't really care now).
It is soooooooo much cooler than I expected and I am loving the extra variety I now have when I go shopping.

Right, there's vacuuming to do so I'm off (exciting eh?).

Day 11 (of 14)

Bloody scales were up 300 grams this morning - WTF?

This is getting harder and harder when I thought it would get easier.
When I did this the week before Xmas, I lost 2.7kgs in 1 week now I'm going to find it hard to hit 2 kgs in two weeks...grrrr.

Anyway I am feeling better in myself which is a bonus and I am definately more active.

Can't go to the loo again this week (happened about the same time last week) but I'm going to take something to 'help me along' this week as I feel horrile last week after 4 days.

Work is really busy at the moment as we are in a tourist town and everyone eats bread (our business) so we are busy busy busy which is all good.

I also had the neighbours kids (11, 8 & 5) today and they have just left and taken my kids with them (gotta love that) so I have a bit of peace and quiet which is bliss after having 5 kids in the house most of the day.

I got some chicken breasts for dinner which I'm going to have with some stir fry vege's (looking forward to that) and I've had my 2 shakes for the day.
My water intake has slacked off the last couple of days (its 2pm and I've only had half a litre today) so I need to get that back up.

Day 9 (of 14)

I've given myself a bit of a 'talking to' because I was letting a few little things creep in which is silly because I didn't need them but I was just being lazy.

I feel much better now and can't believe how well I can do when I focus.
I need to be super organised and its easy (well not easy but EASIER).

I've FINALLY been to the loo and feel a whole lot lighter which the scales are also telling me and I was 700 grams down from yesterday morning's weigh in.

I'm doing this 'shake' thing in support of a very good friend (which I have mentioned before) and I must say she is doing BRILLIANTLY and I am blown away by her dedication. Her mother (also another friend) is also doing it in support of her girl and is also 'creaming it'!.

Hi girls *big waves*, so excited for you.

Our visitors which were going to arrive yesterday (after our 1st lost of visitors left at 4pm last night) are now coming on Thursday which is great as it will give me a bit of time to get my house back in order before they arrive.

I took Reece out for the day today (Adam's turn tomorrow) and we did the usual McDonalds (him not me) and then he wanted to go shopping as he got some money from his cousin and Nanny in Australia he wanted to spend. He definatley takes after his Mum as we were out for about 3 hours going from shop to shop and he loved every minute of it. I'm taking Adam out tomorrow but he will walk into the 1st shop he see's, grab something and want to come home (just like his father..haha).

Right I've had over 2 litre's of water today and need to go to the loo again (visit 760) so I'll love ya and leave ya for tonight.

Weigh In (Day 8 of 14)

Weighed in at 102kg which is quite disappointing because I had gone under that weight during the week but I did loose the blot a bit over the weekend, mostly with drinking (wine not water). My eating wasn't too bad but I did skip a couple of shakes (with nothing to replace it) which didn't help plus I havent been to the loo for about 3 days. Plus NO EXERCISE FOR 3 DAYS.

BUT 1.2kg loss is still excellent and I will continue this week and hope for something similar.

Our Wellington visitors leave today (about lunchtime) and then we have our next lot arriving either this afternoon or tomorrow (hopefully I'll get enough time to whip around and clean up - again).

We had a lovely weekend and the weather was perfect so we basically BBQ'ed the whole weekend apart from going out to lunch yesterday (this was when the wine got drunk).

The next visitors are my in-laws which means I'm going to have to put all of my focus into entertaining them. I haven't seen these one's (due to a falling out) for nearly 5 years so I think things will be a bit strained.

Jo and Jenny - you ladies rock and are doing FANTASTICALLY!

Right since I am in the study and this is where our visitors stay, I'd better get the bed changed and remade *sigh*.

Day 4 (of 14)

Going great guns here, shakes are still yum and the water is getting easier to drink but the toilet stops are still the same - heaps.

Had a few visitors yesterday so didn't manage to get on the treadmill and haven't again this morning but am definately getting on later today (again waiting on a visitor to arrive).

Last night I had another huge salad (I really don't get sick of them AT ALL) and added a couple of bits of feta cheese - yum. I didn't have any eggs to add (hence the cheese) and the boys ended up having sausages, chips and baked beans (yuk!).

I think the thing I'm finding the hardest at the moment is coffee, I am usually a 6 cup a day girl but have been trying to only have 3 maximum and without sugar. I don't mind it THAT much without the sugar but find the hardest thing is not putting it in as it is habit. I made one this morning to take to work and automatically put a teaspoon of sugar in and didn't realise until we were half way to work and I had a sip. I must admit it tasted very sweet to start with but I enjoyed it all the same.

I'm finding mid afternoon still the hardest time for me as I am getting peckish but the extra salad in the fridge has helped. As we live in the Hawkes Bay we have an abundance of beautiful, fresh, variety of fruit and my fruit bowl is full with nectarines, plums, apricots, apples, oranges and golden kiwifruit and I just want to eat it all but have decided not to indulge myself but stick to the plan (2 shakes plus I main meal of protein & salad/vege's) as it is only for 2 weeks and I am DYING to see what the results are.

Of course I jumped on the scales again this morning (I'm such a daily weigher) and they are down 800 grams bringing me to 1.8kgs in 3 days (long may it continue). I had an expectation of losing 2.5 - 3kgs if possible and this is still my goal but if things go better than that, well who am I to complain right?

My main focus is to make sure I do my treadmill and water as I think I have the eating side of it sorted.

Since its such a beautiful day here today I am going to get outside and potter around (after the visitors leave) and then go and get the weekly grocery shopping while the kids go to the neighbours for a 'tea party' (so cute).

Day 1 (of 14)

Day 1 over and done with and I did fantastically.

I drank ALL my water (2 litres) plus some and BOY did my bladder feel it PLUS I think I did enough exercise just running to the toilet and back without needing anymore.

BUT I did unhook the ole' treadmill and managed a brisk 20 minute walk which nearly killed me (boy its been a long time) and I felt elated afterwards.

My eating was also brilliant and I had my morning shake about 9.15am and then my lunch shake around 1pm. By dinner time I was absolutely starving and managed to polish off the remaining huge salad and tiny bit oflasagna from last night which was (again) yummy.

Jumped on the scales this morning and was happy to see a kilo gone, so I'm hoping to double that (at least) by the end of the week.

Today's plan:
More treadmill (either longer or a faster speed)
All my water (look out bladder)
2 x shakes (not a problem)
Either chicken or Steak for dinner

I have also made up a huge salad that is sitting in the fridge for when I get hungry (as well as for my dinner) as I found that I was really hungry late afternoon as well as first thing in the morning. I just looked at my watch and it is 9.45am and I haven't had my 1st shake yet which is leaving it way too late, so I will have to work on having that earlier.

We have more guests staying Saturday and Sunday and then more arriving Monday for either 2 or 3 days. This makes 'things' difficult when having to cook for other people and try to explain to them why I'm either not eating (what they are) or why I'm having a shake etc and then listen to their opinion on it all (which I can do without but sit there smiling and listening).

Be back tomorrow.

Shake, shake, shake, shake a shake it

Right that's the 1st day out of the way, didn't drink all of my water but enjoyed my shakes and had the most delious salad last night with roasted pine nuts (yummmmmmm).

Since going to weight watchers ALL those years ago, I have managed to pick up great recipe's for salad's and must admit that I can make a pretty 'mean' salad now which I completely enjoy and rarely need anything else to go with it. We had lasagne as well last night and I had maybe a quarter the amount I usually have and double the amount of salad.

I didn't get my treadmill unhooked - hangs head in shame - BUT I did enough housework to more than make up for the 30 minutes I had planned.

My darling hubby took the kids for a long bike ride and then to his cousins for a swim in their pool and they would have been away for at least 3 hours, so I got stuck into the housework (worked up quite a sweat) and then shot into town to get some office supplies.

I found that to be a perfect day as I spent time with the kids in the morning but then had my own time in the afternoon and got stuff done (supplies etc).
I am SO OVER these school holiday's and even though the kids have been good, they and myself are ready for them to go back to school and we have 3 weeks to go argh!

I'll leave you with a photo of my boys in their 'tent' they made in the lounge room and one of the 'other half' at Cape Kidnappers golf course, he said it was breathtaking.

Shakes

These are the shakes I take (this is a picture of the fat burner tablets but the image is the same on the shakes), they come in Vanilla, Banana, Berry and Chocolate and are yummy.......yes you read it right, I actually like the taste of them and there's no other shake out there that I can say that about.

I mix it with 250mls trim milk (or half milk, half water) and they cost approx. $22 for a tub which usually lasts me 2 weeks.

Weigh in

103.1kgs which is a loss of 600grams not the kilo I was looking for but (here comes the excuses) its THAT time of the month and I have been known to put on up to a kilo so I figure I have actually lost over a kilo.....hahahahaha gotta love that logic!

I'm just really happy its a loss but still have FULL INTENTIONS of losing that 5 kilo's before Mummy dearest gets here.

I am doing the shake thing more seriously for the next two weeks as I have a very good friend I am supporting (how is also doing it) and I don't want to let her down plus it is only going to benefit me as well so its gotta be a good thing.

HERE WE GO MATE!!!!!!!!!!

I had a quiet weekend and didn't do a hell of a lot which was bloody lovely I tell ya.
The only visitors I had was the neighbour who popped over for a coffee and her son on Saturday night for a sleepover (didn't even know he was here).

Andrew has been training up a relief driver as our current on hasn't been able to work due to his wife being VERY ill and Andrew hasn't had a day off in about 2 months and the cranky little bugger needs one.

The kids have been brilliant and after being kicked off the playstation 3 days in a row for fighting (after only about 10 minutes) they have now learnt to play with each other without fighting....LOL

Plan for today is to do my paperwork (approx 2 - 3 hours) then have a shake, do at least 20 minutes on my treadmill (after unhooking it and plugging it in - won't know what hit it *smile*), do something with the kids (hopefully outdoors) another shake for lunch and then a nice steak and salad for lunch - all while drinking 2 litres of water *phew*. I'll let you know how I did tomorrow, wish me luck.

Instant Motivation!!

Well I have finally found how to get instant motivation when I'm feeling downhearted.......PUT ON LAST YEARS SWIMSUIT!!!!!!!

BOY THAT DID IT.

Thank god I was at a relatives house because it wasn't a pretty sight.
I've never really been a pretty sight in a swimsuit but this was grotesque. I instantly drank gallons of water and have started back on my shakes......hahaha.

It has been stinking hot here in the sunny Hawkes Bay and I am definately feeling it. The lethargic, excess sweating, chaffing its all back and it ain't pretty people!

So I've gotten my head back in the game and decided to set myself a mini goal.
My Mum gets here in the middle of February (34 days to be exact) which gives me 5 weeks to shed a few kilo's. I have decided to set the bar high and WILL lose 5 kilo's before she come's and if I have she is going to buy me a piece of clothing that I want (might have to be a new swimsuit...LOL).

The weight I want to hit (to achieve my goal) is 98.7kg (yay baby - back in double figures) and I am VERY POSITIVE that I can do it.

I am really loving being back online and reading everyone's blogs again, I've really missed reading what everyone is up to. I really find it helpful to read and hear about all the ups and downs other people are going through which makes me feel a little more 'normal' (wrong word but its the only one I can think of).

Right its stinking hot here and I'm off to hang another load of washing out as well as get the kids off the playstation and outside before they kill each other.

Hmmmmmm

Trying to get back into 'it' once there has been a couple of weeks off ISN'T EASY.

I weighed in at 103.7kgs on Monday morning which was a lose off 200gms. I only managed 2 shakes last week and overindulged with too much wine, cheese and biscuits, takeaways etc.

We have had guests staying (which left yesterday) which makes cooking and eating a challenge plus the weather has been friggin amazing (going to be another 30+ today) and all we want to do is drink water (excellent!) then later in the evening drink wine (not excellent) and then eat late (not great when you go to bed at 8.30pm).

Our next lot of visitors don't arrive until 22nd Jan so that gives me 2 weeks to get back into a healthly routine of eating and drinking.
I must admit I really enjoyed the 'shakes' that 1st week and instantly felt better within a week (if only you could bottle that feeling eh?).

Plan for today is, take the kids to the local park and meet up with a friend and her kids. Then our cousin is coming over the pick up the goggles and shorts I managed to take from her house by mistake yesterday after we had finished having a swim in her pool (bliss!).
Then we have to meet up with the boss from Tip Top who is up from Wellington for our bi-annual catch-up (hopefully in a pub or cafe where it is cool) and then come home and crash. I just turned around from where I am sitting and looked at my treadmill which I will unhook and plugin today as well. Tonight I think is the best time once it cools down a bit.

My sister brought me a singlet top thing for Xmas and I baulked at it when I opened it because I NEVER EVER EVER wear a singlet top (my arms are massive) but she said it was so hot up here and all I had (that fits at the moment) are black t-shirt, polo shirts which are just plain stupid, so I put the thing on to please here and it was really cool so I took myself down to 'he Warehouse' and got a couple more.
The only thing I have to do now is get a tan on the upper arms as they are lilly white and look very weird.

Ok I'd better get these kids organised if I'm going to the park this morning,
hope everyone is still on holiday's having a fabulous time (not I).

2nd day into the New Year and I'm knackered!

Well I was a 'Nanna' and was in bed by 9pm on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately we are a 7 day a week business and don't get New Years off, so had to start work at 3am (as per normal) which means an early night.
I had my niece, nephew and great nephew still here which was nice and they said it was the best New Years Day (no hang over) they can remember ....... hahahaha

I made one New Year's resolution 3 years ago which I have kept which was "Never make another New Year's resolution again"......if I made anything different I wouldn't have stuck to it and only gotten myself depressed so why bother??

We have our house back today for a whole 2 days before the next lot of visitors arrive (sister, brother-in-law and nephew) for 3 days so we don't get much of a break PLUS Andrew hasn't had a day off in 5 weeks and I haven't had one off in 3 weeks.....blimey!

The high's and low's of owning your own business I guess.

My food has been a bit off but I'm not too concerned as there has been lots of water being drunk and salad's being eaten...mmmmm. Weigh in on Monday will tell.

The kids have been quite good but FOREVER want the neiboughs kids over here. They are generally good kids but I hate the responsibility of looking after kids constantly and mine never want to go there *sigh*. God I'm moaning today....sorry, I'll stop now!

Mum is visiting in February from Oz and I can't wait to get my 'Allure' perfume that she always gets me through Duty Free as mine is all but gone.

I'm still amazed that this time last year the kids and I were looking forward to visiting Mum and Andrew was staying back to work as he was 'the last on' at Tip Top (Sales Rep then) and had to work. We had NO INTENTION of moving (house or city) or changing career's, giving up my job (over 20 years at) and look at us now!!!

New city, new house, new schools (for the kids), new friends, new business and we are over the moon and just love it.

Right I'm going to end on that note and pop over to see what you gals have been up to.

Wanna - pls email me as I can't get on your blog (let the invite run out - sorry).

Cherrio

Weight

Well I managed to put on 2kgs of the 2.7kgs I lost last week......shit shit shit.

Actually I can't really say I'm that upset, more disappointed in myself.
I decided to NOT DRINK A SHAKE at all last week as it was Xmas week and I wasn't going to miss out on any of the yummy food BUT I just needed to NOT eat the amount of yummy food I did (everything in moderation Rachel!!!!!).

So I've pulled my head back in and am 'back on the wagon' so to speak and (of course) feel much better for it.

I have my niece, her hubby and my great nephew staying with us for a few days and as much as I love the little fella (10 months old) I DON'T miss all the running around there is with a baby. I really don't think I would have the energy anymore. I know it has only been 5 years since Adam crashed into our lives (my little darling) but I feel so old and sluggish now (could also be the weight - ya think?).

My other niece (the one that's here - her younger sister) has also just been admitted to hospital 4 days early to have her first child and I must admit the first thing I thought when I heard this was "thank god its not me".........hehehe.

Right that's it from me at the moment (I have a backyard full of kids) best I go and sort things out (I hear nothing which is ALWAYS a bad sign).

A photo of Reece and Adam with their cousin Jordan.

Merry Christmas

What a full on day (no suprise there eh?) the boys have had a ball, loved the Playstation and have been on it most of the day between their new waterslide (off their Pop) and waterguns (in their santa sack).

I cooked my first Turkey today which I was really nervous about because my Mum always has that job but she now lives in Aussie and I am in Napier without my older sisters around to do it so it was up to me. Mum emailed me instructions as well as her cranberry stuffing recipe (yummo) and thankfully all went well and it was delish.

I got the ABBA Singstar which is fantastic because I LOVE ABBA but unfortunately I'm not the greatest singer in the world but have been practising on it.....hahaha. I can beat the old man so I'm happy about that.

Shooting up to Gisborne tomorrow to suprise Andrew's cousin for his 40th birthday party (he is also our boys godfather) which will be awesome as we didn't think we were going to make it but our relief driver came through for us in the end....yay!!
It will only be a very quick flying visit (up tomorrow after work and back Saturday afternoon) but it will be great to see everyone as there is going to be quite a crowd and heaps of family we haven't seen in years.

My eating has been quite good today, I haven't gone overboard but haven't really been too concerned about watching what I eat (it IS Christmas day) and I'm feeling great.
We had a cooked breakfast this morning and the big Xmas lunch about 2.30pm which means dinner will be leave overs.........yummmmmmmmmmm I love Xmas left overs.

Right I'd better get back to the family, here are some photo's. Bye.

Weigh in

101.9kgs
2.7kgs loss this week - bloody amazing if you ask me and hasn't been that hard.

I know I can't live on 2 shakes and 1 meal a day but I'm hopefully going to do it for at least another week. I'd like to get under 100kgs again rather quickly if possible.

Busy busy busy so I'm signing off for today.....bye.

Back again

Well I feel a bit like Oprah but without the celebrity status and money.....hahaha

My weight has gone up AGAIN and within a year I managed to put on 17.8kg....yep you read it right. This time last year Andrew and I had a challenge to see who could lose the most weight by Christmas and I managed to get to 86.8kgs. I weighed myself last week and I was 104.6kgs *cringe*.

Its been 5 months of hard work up here in Napier and I can count the number of days I've had off on one hand and it is very physical work (packing bread orders from 3am to 6am) so you'd think the weight would have fallen off me but NO!!

I've gone back to my shakes and I have also cut out other things like no sugar in my coffee and cutting my coffee from 8 cups to 3 cups a day. I'm not snacking during the day AT ALL and drinking my water (1.5 - 2 litres a day).

I weighed in on Monday so I have been doing it for nearly a week and must admit that I had massive headaches and hunger pains the first 2 days but now I'm fine and feeling really good all ready. It always amazes me how good I feel when I'm eating right and wish I could bottle the feelings so I don't 'fall off the wagon' so often.

After losing the weight last year I had bought some lovely clothes which now don't fit me. I am currently fitting into 1 pair of jeans and 2 or 3 tops which are all BLACK and it is very hot in Napier (30+ degrees) and I am melting at this weight.

I'm going to have 2 shakes a day for the first 2 weeks to try and get the bulk moving a bit quicker and then go back to doing 1 shake a day with cereal for breakfast and steak and salad (or something similar) for dinner.

My exercise is non-existant at the moment but it always is when I'm this big (lazy) but have full intentions of blowing the dust off my treadmill and getting back into shape.
The kids schools are in walking distance and I managed to walk proberly 4 times (in the last 4 months) with them to and from school but this is going to change in the New Year. Adam finishes Kindergarten and starts school in July which means I can walk them both there and back with no excuses (at the moment it is a bit of a walk for Adam and his school is in the opposite direction to Reece's school).

Christmas is nearly apon me and I'm not organised. We got the kids a playstation for Xmas which hubby and I thought about long and hard as we don't want them being in front of it 24/7 so unfortunately for them, there are going to be rules to using it.
Also got some great games and an eye toy which should be fun. I have also got a few stocking presents but that's it, nothing for anyone else...........slack man!

My Mum and one of my sisters live in Australia and I usually have their presents sent off at the end of November but here it is 4 days before Xmas and I don't even know what to buy them.

Here is a couple of photo's (just because).
One of me, one of Andrew and Reece in front of the playstation we hired for Reece's 7th birthday and one what Adam gets up to at Kindy.

FAREWELL

Well the time has come, I'm not keeping up with this blog and I really don't feel like I want to.......not anytime in the near future anyway.

With me leaving work and moving cities I feel like it is a fresh start and I want to focus my energy somewhere else.

I will miss you all and the great support I have received on here and I do hope to pop into your blogs occasionally and catch up.

See ya *big waves*

Weigh in & Napier House

Weigh in - not so good GAIN 200 grams......oh well.

House in Napier - also not so good. They didn't accept our offer ($25,000 under what they wanted) mainly based on the house they wanted fell through so now they aren't in a hurry and are will to wait around for their asking price (unrealestic).
Oh well, we'll just have to find something else. As we are cash buyers now, it puts us in a much better position in the market.

Ummmmmm a million other things happening with packing, kids organised etc.
Example - just today Reece has a sausage sizzle, show and tell 'newe day' at school and going to a friends house after schhol while little Adam has a train trip to Masterton with his daycare, packed lunch (his favourite part of the whole day...LOL) and then we are all out for dinner at a friends house PLUS I have our business's G.S.T. return to do tonight and did I mention I still work full time? *big sigh* busy busy busy......never dull though.

Catch ya later

S.O.L.D.

We sold the house on Friday.....YAY!
At the 11th hour we had a guy walk in and give us a cash offer with only 2 days to sort his finances (which he did), I am still buzzing.

Resigned from my job about a minute or so later and then took off to Napier to celebrate and find a house to live in as our settlement date is only 4 weeks away.

We did find a house (the one we originally wanted) and are now waiting on the bank to tell us how much we can borrow before we put an offer in. Unfortunately we had to drop our house price about $50,000 to get a sale which isn't as bad as it seems since we are buying and selling in the same market. At the end of the day we just wanted to get up there and start our new life and $50,000 is only money and if we have to buy something a bit cheaper up there, so be it - at least we will all be together.

I had Andrew's cousin and nephew come down from Napier and stay the night which was great as she is one of my good friends and we hardly get time to just sit and relax. Managed to polish off a bottle of wine and I have a wee headache this morning (serves me right drinking on a Monday night!).

I've managed to grab a heap of boxes from work and over the next few weeks will be packing up bit by bit.

I have told the boys about the move and Adam thinks its "cool man" but he is only 3 and doesn't really understand. Reece (6 1/2 years old) thinks its cool one day and then cries the following day because he is leaving all his friends FOREVER.....LOL
Poor wee poppet, I'm trying to tell him that he'll make new friends etc but he has always been our emotional one and will eventually settle once we are up there.

My father who is also coming with us (lives in a self contained flat at the back of the property) is wrapped because the new house has a 2 bedroom granny flat which he loves. Oh - and there's a golf course close by so he's in heaven......hahaha.

Weight wise I have been a bit slack and have just been eating out of boredom which isn't great but I'm sure once I get to Napier and actual get back into exercising things will start moving in the right direction again. Don't get me wrong, I haven't 'fallen off the wagon' or anything like that and I'm sure the scales this week will see either 'no change' or a small gain but I have had a million things going on and aren't worried about it at the moment.

Ok, I think that's it at the moment. I'll let you know if I hear anything about the new house.

Weigh in

Lost 200g this week which isn't going to break any sort of record but I'm rapt that its a loss and not a gain. Got the eating under control until about 9pm and then I loose the plot........must work on that.

House hasn't sold YET but we do have a fella coming back for a 2nd look tonight so fingers crossed. If it hasn't sold in 2 weeks, we are renting!

Kids are fabulous, Reece has a school performance on in a couple of weeks and the whole school is practising for it and he is having so much fun but can't give me details because its a suprise.....LOL

Adam is his devilish self. He is going to break lots of hearts when he gets older, that boy.....very cheeky, very cute.

Hubby is also fantastic and we are going to be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary in 2.5 weeks (which is really 17 as we were together 10 years before we got married). Going out for dinner to our favourite restaurant with NO KIDS ahhhh bliss!

NAPIER

Spent the weekend in Napier and it was glorious.

Wasn't able to watch the All Blacks (our Rugby team) win but heard all about it and also heard the weather here in Wellington was HORRIBLE while in Napier it was clear blue skies and nice and warm during the days.......ahhhhhh nice!.

The boys absolutely love it up there and when we are up there we stay in the Holiday park (2 bedroom cabin) which is lovely and it has a duck pond and park where the kids feed the ducks and play until their hearts are content.


Did I tell you about the house?
We have found a house up there and even put an offer in but they wouldn't accept it because our offer was conditional (we still have our house to sell) which seems silly to me because we offered them their asking price (very rare here in NZ at the moment to actually get your asking price), so I am hoping against all hope that we can sell our house quickly (hahahaha) and buy this before it goes. We did the 'drive by' on the weekend and I still love it, its in a really good suburb and street and the owner was putting up a new front fence.........*big sigh*.

My open home seen 2 groups come through but both weren't interested, even with the second REDUCED price. Our real estate agent told us all their open homes were unsuccessful and there seemed to be people around but no serious buyers, people 'just looking around'......so frustrating.

They have another 2 weeks and if it hasn't sold we are going to rent it and go to Napier or we will still be here this time next year.

Back to work today and it looks like the Wellington weather is fining up after a ripper of a frost this morning. Still chilly though.

Weigh In

Lost 200 grams this week which I'm stoked about as we have just had a long weekend here and I sort of 'relaxed' a bit with my food and we also had one or two social occasions which I sort of 'relaxed' with the ole wine (and a few shooters....LOL).

We got an offer on our house..............don't go getting all excited - we rejected it! It was $40,000 under what we were asking (and we have reduced our price) so we came down another $20,000 and they only came up $5,000 so NO GO there.
Roll on this weeks OPEN HOME I say.

We are popping up to Napier this weekend to visit a few open homes and get a better idea of which area we want to live in. In the last few months we have changed our minds 3 or 4 times and we really need to make a decision and stick to it so I can then investigate schools.

Sorry to say thats all my exciting news........hahaha

I tried taking photo's of my car, my hair and Reece's hair (his had wacky hair day today at school - looked awesome!) but the batteries in my camera were dead so I have them on charge today.