The Good and The Bad

Yesterday I went to see the doctor for my 1 year check up.

The bad news was I weighed 1/2 kg more than last time - but I had just spent 28 nights in hotels and that was pretty good. Over all I have lost 33 kg, I did have a target of 40 kg but I am happy with where I am.

The doctor was really pleased and said the fact that I has stabilised for so long he didn't need to see me again. We had a lovely chat about the changes it had made to my life.

The dietitian is still worried I eat the wrong food, she isn't worried about the calories but she does want me to cut out sugars. I understand the cakes and sweets, but I didn't realise the cereal bars I think of as healthy are actually stuck together with liquid sugar. So I will try.

I need to do more exercise and I need to try harder but as I look back over the year it has been a great success.

To me the highlights have been trying new things, enjoying being in pictures, my PADI course, activities with my daughter, climbing Auckland Bridge but most of all my wrist.

I don't intend to post here except on anniversaries.  Thank you everyone for your support

What Have We Done?

My friend and her sister have had this operation, her daughter and mine are best friends. Both the girls are beautiful, and slim, but both also know it is because they are active; if they get lazy they notice the few ( and only a few) extra pounds. The four of us had a wonderful mother and daughter few days this summer and both mums were so much more fun than ever before, taking part in everything and up for anything.

Then one night the girls told me they had discussed weight loss surgery. I was horrified, what have we done? They said that they would do it now, as a precaution, an immunisation against it happening in the future. They don't want to be like we were, and although they love what we have had done, if they did it now they wouldn't have the flabby skin!

I worry about models who are a bad influence on young girls, I am no better, luckily after a heart to heart they backed away from the idea.

See Saw Dieting

Lots of people call themselves see saw dieters, put on a few pounds, loose a few, put them ( and sometimes more) back on, and life is a constant shift between the two. I wasn't really like that, yes I tried but not all the time and I was pretty constant with my "natural" weight.

So the see saw? Well that is my emotions. It is just over a year since the op, and I have lost almost 33kg, amazing and I should be and can be so pleased with it. But I need a bit more and nothing has really changed in almost 4 months on the scales; then I have high days when I feel great, people tell me how great I look, I feel full on energy and want to try new things.

When you see me, give me a hug and make sure it is a high day. I need to take myself in check and try a little harder to finish the job.

Mum Would be Proud of Me

A year ago my mum died, before I started this weight loss but she knew I was going to do it and she was supportive. I wish she could see me now, she would be prude of me. Look at what I have achieved:

• 33kg that's 71lb lost. That is over 5 stone.

• I am fitter than I have ever been and that has led to me being braver.
  
  
• The unexpected wrist improvement
  


• A new zest for life
  


• > 5 dress sizes smaller and a new wardrobe
  


• The desire and ability to wear high heels Feel good about myself when I dress up and therefore wear more makeup

Changing Habits

My weight is stable has been for almost 4 months and I should be happy with that but I haven't changed my habits. I eat less but I still eat crap. If I wasn't physically unable to eat too much I would be fat again.

This image really shows bad habits and why so many of us are obese. I can honestly say though that i watch very little TV now, I do spend a lot more time being active.

Coasteering

Having managed to do the dive course, I know I am not afraid of open water, so when coasteering was suggested I thought why not. I lived the rock climbing ( think it was the boots), the swimming was ok but I am still not fast, but I was pretty useless at the jumping. Obviously it was fright, but I wanted to do it, my legs just wouldn't move.

The first jump I finally did, but jumped two legged not just stepping off the cliff, the second I couldn't do at all and the third I had to go a little lower, so I guess 1.5 out of 3; 50% success rate.

But I loved it and also loved the wetsuit, now who would of thought they would hear me say that a year ago?

More Photos

Did another magazine shoot - I could get used to this, I like the finished product. When I was fat, I was always behind the camera, meant I didn't have to be in the pictures.

Mother and Daughter

OK it is official, I like having my photo taken now, another really big benefit of feeling less fat. And having my photo taken with my daughter who is simply stunning is the best. 

What A Difference A Year Makes

A year ago today I had my operation, I have lost 32Kg not quite as much as I had planned but I am happy. I haven't lost much for 4 months but I haven't gained an ounce.

I am happy. I am glad I did it.

OOps

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while - no problem, I haven't fallen off the waggon or anything, just simply been too busy. I have a number of thoughts written down and will try and catch up next week.

Great Way To Achieve My Best

I am on my annual holiday, and am trying to have a really relaxing time. It started with a wedding in New York with friends. I am not really a shopper, but it is amazing how much you can clock up walking up and down 5th Avenue, Broadway, 42nd Street etc in the sunshine, so without even thinking about it, I beat my personal best. Glad I ignored my friend's mantra of 'lets get a taxi'.

One Million - Way To Go

Finally reached the one million mark - happy

Another Update From My Virtual Coach

Thank Goodness I signed up to the GCC, not perfect but it is a goal to strive towards. This is the latest update:

We know that the average adult is only taking around 3,000 steps per day. That's only enough to burn off about 120 calories or 502 kilojoules.

To date, you've walked 11,284 steps daily which is burning 1,895 kilojoules. This is already 275% higher than the average adult. A superb result and one that your body will thank you for, if it hasn't already.

Not only that, but GCC participants are often amazed when I compare their daily performance to that of regular gym-goers. For example, based on your current step average, a regular gym-goer would have to complete 56 minutes on a cross-training machine to expend the same amount of energy as you are currently burning off every single day! Now that's something to be very proud of!

Not So Child Friendly

My favourite exercise is swimming and I do try to stay in hotels that have a pool. The last 2 weeks I booked the right hotels but forgot it is high season for holidays, and I may be a snob but I don't like sharing my quiet swim with noisy children.

It meant I couldn't swim in the evenings or rather chose not to, but at 6am most children were still in bed.

Didn't Want to Stop

A few years ago I challenged myself to cycle the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and was so pleased with myself I bought a bicycle; although I tried hard I didn't ever succeed the 3 mile circuit around my house without having to actually stop a few times.

I haven't used the bike for a while, I am more the treadmill in the living room, in the warm and dry (did you know how much it rains in Ireland?); anyway today I decided to give it a go, and not only did I manage not to stop once (although my heart thought it might for a while), when I reached my house I turned right and did another 2 miles!!

If you cycle 5 miles is not very much, but to me it was a real achievement.

Not Ready for the Giving Away Yet

Despite the weight not changing the shape is, and today, because I can, I altered 2 pairs of trousers (one for the 2nd time), and altered a dress I bought last week, which I fell in love with but was simply too short, so made it into a top.

New Size but Looks Better

Last weekend I went shopping with my sister and daughter and it wasn't as much fun as I wanted, I didn't look good. My sister told me what I knew deep down inside that it was time - again - to change bra size.

So today I went into town got measured and actually was quite pleased, with the right size on, I looked better. So hopefully I will enjoy shopping again soon.

Away With The Rubbish

It isnt that I eat a lot, but I can if I am not careful snack too much, and I have to curt out cake and sweet stuff; again I am not eating anywhere near like what I did but I should eat hardly any.

There are or rather were biscuits in my house, not that I was hoarding them or eating too many at anyone time but they needed to go. Felt really good, emptying them into the recycle bucket. Included a box of Girl Scout cookies I bought in Denver in February simply because I had never had Girl Scout Cookies!

Good Day

Not said much for a while but a good day today so bit of a post fest.

Weight still not moving either way, but determined this is not the end, need more exercise, less snacking.

A BIg Problem

So the weight isn't really moving but the shape is. My top is now a size 14 UK (10 US, 42 European) as is my bottom, however the bit in the middle isn't changing.

Ah well something to work on....

Oh Dear Hope This Gets Better

Yesterday I thought I would try a new fun exercise, and spent a whole £1.25 in the supermarket on a hula hoop. Glad I didn't pay a lot as I am useless, I will persevere for a bit but I have so far to go. Still it made me laugh.

750,000 Steps Towards My Goal

Today my Corporate Challenge Team reached 7,000,000 steps.

There are 7 in the team so I guess that means that on average I have hit the 1,000,000.

Not really true I am not the worst but not the best either, and when I look at my actual figures I am closer to 750,000; but still very proud.

A Good Photo Helps

 
Sometimes it is simply the composition of the photograph that makes me look good. 

I like this one. (Taken in Montevideo)

My Global Corporate Challenge Coach Loves me

In total, you've single-handedly walked 430km and in the process burnt off 112,934 kilojoules of energy. Your average daily step count is now 11,203 and on one amazing day you reached your personal best of 14,484. This is an excellent first 8 weeks and I'm delighted with this performance. Have a think now about what you'd like to achieve in the second half. Can you match this? Why not beat it? I know you have lots more to give and I believe you are ready to fly even higher.

Good Bye Bridget Jones

Since I have lost weight my daughter has been on a mission to replace my collection of Bridget Jones' knickers. So when I started this 3 week travel I packed them all and have thrown them away, day by day, she will be so proud of me.

Gym what Gym ?

Well bringing my trainers on this trip was a waste of suitcase space. I haven’t been once. The walking is doing ok but the gym is sadly missing, I just haven’t had time. my friend Kuassi has made the gym most days but I think he doesn’t sleep at all. Need to work hard when I get home in a week.

Trying New Things

It is the simple things I love most about the new me. Today it was not being afraid to try a hammock and enjoying my afternoon siesta on a private island of the coast of Cartagena, Columbia.

I Rattle

Although my type of surgery, a gastric sleeve, means I can absorb all food, I do have to be careful about what I eat to try and get all the nutrients I need naturally. For the first year at least I am taking vitamin supplements, and now I think I actually rattle. Still small price to pay. I have had a flare up of excema on my forehead and behind my ears which the specialist thinks happened because I got anaemic after the surgery. So again not directly linked to dieting but a side effect of the op. I hope it gets in check, but rather that than diabetes or heart problems which the weight loss makes less likely

Single Digits

3 days in a hotel last week and everyday the scales had me at 85Kg yes, yes, yes, so the gain wasn't really a gain it was a loss so perhaps it was something tobdo with weighing myself straight after a long haul flight. Either way it doesn't matter, just 9kg to go.

Feeling Better

At a hotel this week, and according to both sets of scales in the gym, I have actually lost weight, so perhaps my home scales are just on strike!

So feeling a little better and in the Global Corporate Challenge where I am aiming for 10,000 steps a day I have an average of 11,000 and have completed a total distance of 319km which to me is amazing.

Not Good

Just home from a week away in US, and the scales have moved, in the WRONG direction.

Not happy, but determined to be positive. I can and will turn this around.

Early Morning Exercise

I am away at a conference (surprise, surprise) in Long Beach, california. Each morning there is a Chi Gong class, which seems really gentle and relaxing, altough I can feel every muscle in my legs!

A friend (or at least he was), took this photo. Last year I would have hated to have a picture of my backside taken, but actually I quite like this.

Sssh something is happening

 

After 7 weeks of no change, the scales have moved a bit, not much and not enough to get excited about but I now have less than 10kg to go. Thanks to everyone for your support I have really needed it, it has been getting me down. But then I get a picture like this and think Life is Good.

I Need A Bigger Suitcase

When I was fat, I was really good at packing. A few staple items and just flat shoes. I could do a week on hand luggage, and I mean UK hand luggage, not what you get away with in the US.

But now, I have to pack sports kit, and shoes, lots of shoes, I want high ones, ones to match the lovely dresses I can now wear, and ones to walk a lot in. I want to show off looking good and that means more in my suitcase. And then I want to shop!!! This getting fit is a hard life.

Goodbye Outsize Clothes

For as long as I can remember this has been my most frequented shop. In the uk this is the shop for outsize people, and now I have cancelled my subscription to their catalogue.