Friday Weigh In- 31 August

Start: 87.5 kilos (192.5 lbs)

Last week: 77.3 kilos (170 lbs)

Today: 77.3 kilos (170 lbs)

Loss: 0 kilo (0 lbs)

Total: 10.2 kilos (22.4 lbs)

 

 Sob.

 

There was no movement on the scales this week. I know that there is no reason for the scales not to move because I followed my key behaviours to the tee:

 

Exercise 5 x 1 hour per week

Eat under 1200 calories a day

Eat mostly lean protein and vegetables

No binge eating!

 

 It is OK though, I am really not upset because I know the scales tend to have good and bad weeks, and it is not always dependent on my behaviours, sometimes it just happens. Hopefully next week the scale will show me lots of love!

 

This week I have been trying to increase my incidental exercise because I work in an office and I really don't do much except sit around all day at a computer. So I have started to walk part of the way to and from work. I normally catch 2 different trams to work, so now instead of transferring to the second tram I just walk that leg instead. It's a 25 minute walk each way, so I am adding in an extra 50 minutes of movement to my day... weather dependent of course. It has actually been a really nice way to start and finish my work day so hopefully I'll be able to keep at it as the weather heats up.

 

Since I am sounding all sunshine and rainbows today I'll leave you with the picture I took of a rainbow after work last week.

 

 





A Winter Jacket Victory

Speaking of Non-Scale Victories (NSVs) I had another one this morning when getting dressed for work and realising I was wearing the same dress from this post. It reminded me that one of my biggest goals this winter was to successfully button up my size 16 Target winter jacket again.

AJ snapped the picture below one evening back in May on the tram after work which very cruelly demonstrated how much too small my jacket was for me. You can't tell from that angle, but my stomach kind of looked like a baby bump. So very embarrassing...

Now this is me this morning in the same dress and same jacket and the bottom button now completely buttons up. Not only that, the jacket is actually getting a bit big around my bust, back and shoulders. I guess that is a good thing seeing as spring starts this weekend!

To be perfectly honest, I am not sure if I have ever had a winter jacket that buttons up properly. I have spent every winter trying to fit back into a jacket that is too small and having to wear it open even when it is freezing cold. I really hope next winter I will be able to buy a winter jacket in a 'normal' size store and wear it comfortably for years to come!

A Puppy Non Scale Victory

I had a nice little non scale victory last week while I was baby sitting my brother's gorgeous dog, Cosmo. He is a very energetic 8 month old puppy and loves to run and play and be social so I wanted to take him for lots of walks while he was with me.

It was quickly apparent that walking was just no fun for Cosmo, he wanted to run and play, so off we went. We ran around and around the neighbourhood and I actually managed to wear him out. I must admit that I was dripping in sweat by the end of it, but it was fantastic to be able to run with Cosmo and see him having so much fun.

It just feels so good to be a useful member of my family who can help take care of others without being a burden. A lovely non scale victory for me.

Also, in case you can't tell, I am a little bit smitten with Cosmo.

AJ and Cosmo

An action shot of me running with Cosmo (who has just run out of the shot)

This is Cosmo the day my brother got him in March, he has grown so much in 6 months!

Friday Weigh In- 24 August

Start: 87.5 kilos (192.5 lbs)

Last week: 78.1 kilos (171.8 lbs)

Today: 77.3 kilos (170 lbs)

Loss: 0.8 kilo (1.7 lbs)

Total: 10.2 kilos (22.4 lbs)

Gosh, I nearly sobbed with happiness when I saw the scale this week. I had snuck a peek earlier this week and the scale had spiked up due to it being that time of the month, so I was shocked to see the scale go down by so much on Friday morning.

I have now lost over 10 kilos since I started my final 15 challenge on the 3 year anniversary of my lap band on the 22nd May. The number 77 on the scales is my happy place and I just feel so much more comfortable at this weight. I would still like to lose another 2-5 kilos, but I guess I am just kind of shocked that I have even got this far, so I am thrilled!

Over the past 18 months I have struggled to get my head in the right space to lose weight and I really didn't know if I had it in me anymore. I completely lost faith in myself and I stopped putting the effort in, but everything has clicked for me this time and I feel really positive about what I am doing. I am eating foods that fuel me and doing exercises I enjoy (as much as I can ever enjoy exercising) and I am getting amazing results.

The best part about the last few months isn't even the weight loss (though it is awesome), it is how my attitude has changed. I was so sick of being miserable, negative and depressed. I just didn't feel like myself and I felt so powerless to change and it was quite scary. 

I actually can't take the credit for the change in my attitude because the big factor has been that I have finally been able to find a medication for my anxiety that has helped. Last year I tried 3 different kinds of medications that gave me severe side effects and left me feeling like a zombie. I ended up feeling worse before I got better and then in the  middle of this year I felt like I had the strength and determination to give it another try. 

It hasn't been smooth sailing, I have suffered a crazy amount of insomnia, but that is a small price to pay for me to feel like my old self again.

Friday Weigh In- 17 August

Start: 87.5 kilos (192.5 lbs)

Last week: 79.1 kilos (174 lbs)

Today: 78.1 kilos (171.8 lbs)

Loss: 1 kilo (2.2 lbs)

Total: 9.4 kilos (20.7 lbs)

 

I am really, really, really pleased with my weigh in this week. I think any week you can lose a kilo should be well celebrated! Though I have to say that my lap band got a bit tight at the end of this week and I struggled to get food down, so I hope it's not a false weigh in and then when I can eat again I'll gain some weight back.

 

I kind of had a crazy goal in the back of my head that I would love to be 77.5 kilos by the end of August and with 2 weeks left of August I just may be able to pull it off. I really hate to get ahead of myself though, that is when things always come crashing down...

 

As great as my result on the scale was this week, my main goal was focusing on good behaviours and I can happily say that I aced it this week.

 

Good Behaviours:

 

Exercise 5 x 1 hour per week

Eat under 1200 calories a day

Eat mostly lean protein and vegetables

No binge eating!

 

The 'No binge eating!' is by far the hardest behaviour for me to work on. I am proud to say that I haven't had a binge since the start of June, but it is still hard, especially on the weekends. I am finding that I am fearing social events because I just don't trust myself not to over-indulge on food and alcohol. I really don't want to be that uptight so I have to work harder to find a balance and not worry so much!

 

Here is a photo of me taken this morning before work. I don't normally wear jeans to work, but we are going to the footy tonight so I wanted to dress more casually (and warmer) than I do for work. Not to mention that I wanted to wear my navy and white stripped top to support my team. Go Cats!

Friday Weigh In- 10 August

Start: 87.5 kilos (192.5 lbs)

Last week: 79.5 kilos (175 lbs)

Today: 79.1 kilos (174 lbs)

Loss: 0.4 kilos (0.8 lbs)

Total: 8.4 kilos (18.5 lbs)

I did weigh myself on Friday morning, but I somehow forgot to post this until Sunday afternoon. I was really, really, really hoping to see a number starting with a 78 this week but I had a relatively small loss and just missed out. Damn it!

I have noticed that I tend to have a couple of good weigh ins and then a couple of average weigh ins, even though I am doing the same amount of exercise and eating the same amount of calories so I guess it just cycles like that for me. I just have to learn to be zen about it the numbers on the scales and accept the highs and lows.

AJ keeps telling me to focus on my behaviours and not worry about the scale.  He is completely right, but scale obsession is very hard to combat. So in an effort to follow his advice (don't tell him that though) this week I am focusing on the behaviours that I know will lead me to health and weight loss.

• Exercise 5 x 1 hour per week
• Eat under 1200 calories a day
• Eat mostly lean protein and vegetables
• No binge eating!

So far I have been really good with these behaviours but I am definitely getting some diet fatigue and it is getting harder to keep it up with every passing week. The little devil in the back of my head wants to eat a tub of ice cream or stay in bed longer rather than get up and exercise. Which makes total sense because that is much more fun than getting up in the freezing cold to exercise and eating broccoli but I have goals and I am determined to meet them.

More About The Body Lift

I am jumping out of my skin (pardon the pun) with excitement over this body lift surgery. I have wanted this done before I ever lost a single kilo because I knew my stretched out stomach was never going to go back into place when I lost weight. I can't believe I will have a flat stomach for the first time in my life. I can't even imagine what that will feel like!

Things I am looking forward to (warning-- there is some TMI):

• Jogging without my stomach flapping about
• Being able to wear clothes from normal size shops
• Not being mistaken for a pregnant lady constantly
• Doing pilates without my stomach falling in my face
• Wearing whatever I want without having to check if it's clinging to my stomach
• Sexy time... if you know what I mean...
• Not hitting my stomach on furniture when I underestimate how big it is as I walk past something
• Being able to see my 'down stairs' when I look down
• Wearing jeans that fit me properly in the waist and my legs/bum at the same time
• Having a waistline for the first time ever
• Sitting down without my stomach sticking to the top of my legs
• Not having to wear spanx quite so much
• Less lower back pain
• Being able to fit into friends clothes
• Not being so self-conscious when going for massages and beauty treatments
• Getting a bikini wax without having to hold up my stomach
• Wearing nice underwear without my stomach hanging out
• Buying an expensive winter jacket and know it will fit for years to come
• Washing and drying myself without it having to be an olympic event
• Summer time without the sweat rashes
• Losing the shelf of skin and fat that hangs over my bottom
• Seeing myself in the mirror and feeling normal

Now you know why I am spending $15,000 on a body lift!

I know most people are not overly familiar with a body lift as it is not as common as the tummy tuck so I'll try and explain a little more...

A lower body lift is a complex surgical procedure. It is performed under a general anaesthetic, given by an anaesthetist, in an accredited hospital, so you can be assured of the best care.
During the procedure, incisions are made around your waist, across your lower abdomen and down your thighs. Excess skin is trimmed, muscle is tightened and any excess fat is removed. The skin is sutured in place with absorbable sutures.
Drains are placed under the incisions and will remain in place for 7 to 10 days. The incisions are closed and covered and a compression garment is applied.

Source

These pictures may help a bit more as they show where the surgeon will cut. The skin between those red dotted lines will be removed and the remaining skin pulled up/down and stitched together so that it is tight. Yes that is going to hurt! You will also notice that I will lose my belly button, so the surgeon will create a new fake belly button. I guess I would look pretty weird without one.

I found an article published in the UK about one woman's experience with getting a body lift. I can't say it is particularly positive or negative, but it gives a good idea of what I am up for, you can read it here.

If anyone has any questions about the surgery just leave a comment and I will answer them in the comments section.

Friday Weigh In- 3 August

Well it's Friday again (thank the lord!) so it's time for another weigh in post. I had a great weigh in last week, so I was a little nervous that this week wouldn't go so well, but I was really happy to see a loss of 0.8 kilos (1.5 lbs).

Start: 87.5 kilos (192.5 lbs)

Last week: 80.3 kilos (176.5 lbs)

Today: 79.5 kilos (175 lbs)

Loss: 0.8 kilos (1.5 lbs)

Total: 8 kilos (17.5 lbs)

 

The best thing about this week's weigh in is that I am back in the 70's and I'm a little over half way to my goal to lose my final 15 kilos. I first celebrated getting into the 70's back in November 2010 and I am trying to be as excited about it as I was back then, but we all know that losing weight that you regained just isn't quite as fun. I think I am more relived than excited this time around. I'll feel even better when I get a few kilos distance between the 70's and 80's on the scale because right now I am only one big meal away from tipping the scales back into the 80's.

 

I am vowing to put in a supreme effort in August because I really don't have too much on socially so I have every opportunity to work hard and lose a few kilos (hopefully). With spring coming up next month I know I have a lot on that could (probably will) derail my dieting and exercise efforts a bit. Honestly, why can't the world just stop for a few months and let me get to my goal weight? But I have my body lift surgery to look forward to, so if that can't motivate me, nothing can!