Oodles' Weekly Weigh In

[oodles83]

Hi everyone,

Decided to start a weekly diary to share my progress.

I've always been big because I love food - even as a child I would pick the biggest food option rather than the tastiest. I'm only just over a week out but I already feel my whole outlook has changed... Now the option for volume has gone I feel so much more positive! I'm not an emotional eater but I did eat when I was bored, mostly when I was alone at the weekend and had nothing else to do.

I made the decision to have a bypass because my life had ground to a halt. I have a demanding and solitary job so my social life is nil where I live - my family and friends are at the other end of the country. After being entirely miserable for a couple of years I decided that 2015 would be a year of change. I have decided to move closer to family and get a less stressful job. I'm only 32 so why am I doing this to myself - for the money? There is so much more to life.

I am in the process of buying a little house in my home town which needs completely renovating - it will likely take me a year to get it finished, but it will be my dream home already that has turned my frown upside down! As I feel I am now working towards a goal - I have a reason to deal with the daily nonsense. I just need to make it til March for my bonus and I can leave. At the same time I will need a new job and I got to the point where I had no confidence because of the way I look. Even when I was a size 24 I was so much happier and confident than I am now and I am determined to find that girl again. My confidence and hermitism (new word!!) isn't just about my weight - all my friends have left the area where I work and I just don't have the opportunity to make new ones as I sit in an office on telecons all day with my door closed. I also tend to have meetings in the evenings so just - no chance. Therefore people see me as stuck up and look the other way when I smile at them in the corridor. That isn't who I am at all! So, new job, new house, new life.

I had the bypass to give me that boost I need to feel confident in myself when I do start interviewing. I don't want people to dismiss me at first sight.

I don't have a specific goal for my weight, or a timeframe, I hope it will be noticeable by March when I bin all of this off so I can go out and wow employers! Then once I move I will be able to start over! Woop woop!!

I had my preassessment on 23rd May and I was 379lb (I'm 5'8"). My op wasn't until 27th June so I had a couple of weeks of 'last meals' and started my pre op diet a bit early. The LSD wasn't bad at all, in fact I would like to continue the slim fast when I'm back at work if I can handle the sugars. I'm not brave enough to try that yet. The morning of my op I was 359lb.

Recovery has been great, no problems at all so far. Dressings were off yesterday and they look fine. I feel quite proud of them

As of this morning I am 345lb so all going in the right direction! I know it will slow but I'm doing everything right and not struggling so far. I did have a huge pang of head hunger yesterday but had a mug of tea and it went away. I think it was because I was looking for recipes for the next stages!

Omg I just read back this post - apologies for writing so much!! I'm sure future posts will be significantly shorter!!

 

[Tules]

fantastic, welcome on board and here is to new you in 2015!

 

[BFB]

Great post oodles! Can really identify with a lot of it. And I love how you've realised things need to change, not just weight but job and where you love etc. I feel the same, my weight is changing but I want other changes cause it's made me realised how dissatisfied I am with my job and how I shouldn't just settle for things. We totally deserve it!! Looking forward to following your journey. All the best for your recovery x

 

[oodles83]

Yay I'm not alone! I've been at this company nigh on 10 years and I'm grateful for everything they've done for me and the opportunities they gave me. I just feel I don't want to give them more of my life. I certainly don't want to do this until I retire and I will completely have to change my career when I leave so I want to do that while I'm young enough to start at the bottom again

2016: bring it ON!!!

 

[oodles83]

Well. I didn't manage a weekly weigh in did I? I have been weighing daily since the op but I'm not obsessing... Well perhaps a little bit. As expected on week 2 my loss had slowed, then weeks 3 and 4 basically nada happened! Up a pound, down a pound. I was googling my face off trying to wonder why this was. I had seen the 3 week stall as a very common thing so I wasn't freaking out, just a little frustrated.

Now I've started soft foods, though, and I've lost 2 lb in 2 days. I'm finally over the 3st loss mark! (Incl LSD, that is.) I think perhaps I wasn't eating enough during the purée stage. Now I'm trying different (soft) foods and making sure everything is mostly protein. Still chewing everything thoroughly and I'm pleased to see the scales moving again! Probably as I have a better variety of food and more calories. I never really properly worried during the stall because I was eating so few calories there was no way it wasn't going to fall off at some point!

One major thing is that next week (still soft food stage) I have to travel abroad for work. Hotel for a week. I just don't know what to do about food whatsoever. There is a supermarket nearby so I can stock up but on what? I won't have a fridge or microwave in the room. I was considering taking my electric food warmer and buying some kids tinned meals to eat for dinner. You know asda do those healthy kids tins? Might pick some up this weekend. I think for breakfast I can have poached eggs and beans - they can't do much to those can they? I daren't try an omelette in case there is oil used. I had an accidental full fat cheese incident recently and never again!! (I thought it was reduced fat, oops.)

But what of lunch? Perhaps I can steal a yoghurt from the restaurant buffet, I won't have a chance to get out of the office at lunchtime to buy something.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received!!

 

[Tules]

yes eggs are great, a little bit of oil in an omelette might be OK? Mind you I have a sleeve which is different than bypass.
stews might be OK too if you can mash them. most European countries will have low fat cheese and yogurt too.
enjoy the holiday. you will find somethings between the restaurants and the supermarkets I am sure.

 

[oodles83]

Oh dear... Really really need to up my fibre from now on. I've been focused so much on protein I've wound up in somewhat of a pickle. Thought I would check the local supermarket tonight for fibre I can nibble in the office. I'm unsure if I like prunes, but are there any other dried fruits anyone can recommend?

 

[BFB]

Sorry to hear of your 'troubles'. I presume it's toilet related? I've always been lucky in that department. Upping your water will probably help too. I'm sure someone will be along to help.

 

[oodles83]

Thanks BFB, got some fibre artillery before I went over, the capsules were quite big so I opened them... Yeah that powder, even sprinkled in soup, made me ill. I've realised I have issues with powdery medicines. My lansoprazole odts have the same effect, as do my calcium chewables. When I get home I will be so happy to try actual tablets again ? but! I picked up some chewy figgy things and one a day and all working perfectly yay!

Had my 6 week consultation over Skype from the hotel, my dr seems quite pleased with me! According to my parents' scales I've lost a couple of pounds short of 4 stone which I'm happy with. Although when I weigh on my own scales on Monday they might tell a totally different story of course!! Since I sorted my aforementioned issues the weight seems to be moving more. I can exercise now so tomorrow when I'm home it's time to dust off the old Rosemary Conley DVDs!

The food in the hotel was... Interesting. I was basically ill one way or the other every day, but I see it as a learning curve. I'm not upset about it or anything, now I can eat real food again it's good to know what I can and can't handle. And I'd rather the bad things happen in the privacy of a hotel room rather than out socialising! I can also now recognise the signs of when to stop and when I can see something's not agreeing with me. I experienced muchos restriction after forgetting myself and inhaling a bowl of melon after a prawn cocktail. So I must also take note of eating slowly! All good lessons and I feel like I really gained a lot last week. I've been totally fine since I walked out of the hotel and I even managed 1/4 of a cottage pie in the ferry's greasy spoon cafe (potato pushed to the side).

So I decided to see what the sales offered me today, as I've noticed over the past fortnight or so a big difference in how my clothes hang - as in, they hang off me. I was really excited to see that instead of squeezing into probably too small 32 jeans, I actually could get into 28s!! Now... I know when they wash they will shrink and I won't be able to get them over one ankle, but in the changing room mirrors I could kind of see some sort of shape re-emerging! And i even got a couple of 22/24 tops. A bit snug but much better than having to pull my tops up back onto my shoulders as I had to do in the office all last week! And hey I'll shrink into them ? I don't actually know if I was a 32 top before. It's what I wore but I've been hiding myself for so long under flowy clothes I can't really tell.

I'm a bit apprehensive about wearing smaller clothes. I want to hide the fact I'm losing weight. Is that weird? I don't want anyone asking me about it or talking about me. Ideally I'd like to spend the next 12-18 months in a cave or somewhere and then emerge with a new life and no-one will know about the old one. When I win the lottery that's what I'll do ?

I wish everyone a fab weekend!!

 

[BFB]

Thanks BFB, got some fibre artillery before I went over, the capsules were quite big so I opened them... Yeah that powder, even sprinkled in soup, made me ill. I've realised I have issues with powdery medicines. My lansoprazole odts have the same effect, as do my calcium chewables. When I get home I will be so happy to try actual tablets again ? but! I picked up some chewy figgy things and one a day and all working perfectly yay!

Had my 6 week consultation over Skype from the hotel, my dr seems quite pleased with me! According to my parents' scales I've lost a couple of pounds short of 4 stone which I'm happy with. Although when I weigh on my own scales on Monday they might tell a totally different story of course!! Since I sorted my aforementioned issues the weight seems to be moving more. I can exercise now so tomorrow when I'm home it's time to dust off the old Rosemary Conley DVDs!

The food in the hotel was... Interesting. I was basically ill one way or the other every day, but I see it as a learning curve. I'm not upset about it or anything, now I can eat real food again it's good to know what I can and can't handle. And I'd rather the bad things happen in the privacy of a hotel room rather than out socialising! I can also now recognise the signs of when to stop and when I can see something's not agreeing with me. I experienced muchos restriction after forgetting myself and inhaling a bowl of melon after a prawn cocktail. So I must also take note of eating slowly! All good lessons and I feel like I really gained a lot last week. I've been totally fine since I walked out of the hotel and I even managed 1/4 of a cottage pie in the ferry's greasy spoon cafe (potato pushed to the side).

So I decided to see what the sales offered me today, as I've noticed over the past fortnight or so a big difference in how my clothes hang - as in, they hang off me. I was really excited to see that instead of squeezing into probably too small 32 jeans, I actually could get into 28s!! Now... I know when they wash they will shrink and I won't be able to get them over one ankle, but in the changing room mirrors I could kind of see some sort of shape re-emerging! And i even got a couple of 22/24 tops. A bit snug but much better than having to pull my tops up back onto my shoulders as I had to do in the office all last week! And hey I'll shrink into them ? I don't actually know if I was a 32 top before. It's what I wore but I've been hiding myself for so long under flowy clothes I can't really tell.

I'm a bit apprehensive about wearing smaller clothes. I want to hide the fact I'm losing weight. Is that weird? I don't want anyone asking me about it or talking about me. Ideally I'd like to spend the next 12-18 months in a cave or somewhere and then emerge with a new life and no-one will know about the old one. When I win the lottery that's what I'll do ?

I wish everyone a fab weekend!!

Hi oodles, glad things seem to be sorted in that department now!

Brilliant loss too, your hard work is paying off for sure. Well done.

Yeah, it is all a learning curve and from what I've read on here, it's worth going back to things to try again to see if you can tolerate them. I seemed to develop a lactose intolerance on the LSD and about 6 weeks after my op, I tried a non lactose free latte in Costa and let's just say, I regretted it. I might try again in a few weeks to see if things have settled!

Brilliant NSVs with the clothes, so satisfying when the sizes go down. Costs a blimming fortune though

I can totally understand the wanting to hide thing. For me, it gets a bit embarrassing and i go red but then I'm thrilled people have noticed it and taken the time to mention it. Can't win! I think when we lose the weight, we'll always be known as 'the one that lost a lot of weight' rather than Kim, Khloe or Kourtney or whatever our names are. There's a real draw to moving away and leaving the old fat life behind. I'd love to live by the sea, so I'll see you in that cave. I'll bring candles!

Have a great week

 

[oodles83]

Thanks BFB

I've been doing good ol Rosemary Conley DVDs since Sunday. I have been completely pooped afterwards but I'm not aching the next day so I guess I'm not pushing myself enough. I ordered some davina DVDs which will turn up tomorrow, I know they will be too hard for me and I won't be able to do it all, but I'm excited to do some sit ups along with her and also the boxing stuff. I enjoy the pain the next day, feels like I'm doing stuff!

Had a horrible experience at work today. I took some ham and dairylea in crispbread today for lunch, and usually I'm fine but I must have been eating too fast because after a wafer thin slice and half the crispbread they got majorly stuck and for the next 3 hours I was dying!! And also I had hiccups. Really loud hiccups. Twice. And as I could plainly hear people in the next office talking quietly, my strangled donkey impression must have raised eyebrows across the land back onto soft food for dinner.

But I've not lost any weight since Sunday! I'm expecting to wake up and it will all have fallen off overnight I hope I'm not stalling. Last time I realised it was because of aforementioned 'issues' which are all now thankfully resolved!

I'm back to my hometown at the end of August for a week and I'm hoping to book in some sessions at the local private pool. I'm gagging to get back in the water but I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready to go to a public pool. I kind of see myself shrinking, but I do feel like a deflating balloon. I'm not upset by this as I'm busy dreaming of next autumn when I'll be able to wear a knee length skirt, thick tights, heels and a jumper - that's always been the dream outfit and I have never in my life been able to wear it. So thick tights will hold all the wobbles perhaps I'll spend a load of time eventually wearing the clothes I've always wanted to: oversized jumpers that don't look necessary, denim dress, tartan Dr Martens... Ok I'm basically going to turn into my fashion idol of Clarissa Explains It All aren't I? Well, she was a pioneer. I'll leave the floppy hats in the 90s though.

 

[oodles83]

Freakin grr

I am in a 2 week stall! I had stalls at weeks 3 and 4 and so to stop this happening again I have been exercising. Didn't ache with Rosemary so I progressed onto Davina and this week I have been a broken woman! But have persevered the pain feels good in a weird way. Weighed this morning and not one lb has gone. I had a followup with the nurse and dietitian this week who said I am doing everything okay and just to make sure I get my water in. I have been making a huge effort to do that since the appointments

I decided to cut out carbs and live on protein to see if it makes a difference, so breakfast is one weetabix (will be an egg at the weekend), lunch is some ham and dinner is a fried egg (in frylight). And nada! No difference! I don't get it

Don't get me wrong I'm continuing, but it's just frustrating how I'm putting in all this extra effort for no result. I'm expecting a massive loss next week to make up for this! I did the online BMR readings and it says my BMR is over 2000 cals, so I just don't see how it isn't shifting if I'm only eating at most 600, and today and yesterday perhaps 400 at the very most.

I have PCOS so I was wondering if that was why I am stalling, hence cutting out the carbs.

Anyone got any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[jen1805]

hi oodles, don't despair!!! have you checked your measurements? I have had gains in weight but lost cm's from waist and hips, dietitian put it down to replacing fat with muscle, your doing great keep plugging away xxx

 

[oodles83]

I don't measure as such, I let my clothes tell me

I know I need a stiff talking to lol. It's the first time it's frustrated me but I will plod along! I see you guys with your amazing losses, and as my surgeon said I need to make the most of the first year and when I don't see anything moving it just gets disheartening. Oh well! I'm sure something will happen soon

 

[oodles83]

Cutting down portions + davina's dvd = 7lb loss this week!! I may have finally cracked this thing! Woop!

 

[jen1805]

fab result well done you xxx

 

[oodles83]

Thanks Jen! Feel like I can conquer the world today!

 

[Oopseydaisy]

. .

 

[oodles83]

Well, I survived the first family meal I was nervous because only my parents know about the op so I really didn't want to bring attention to the fact I wasn't eating a lot during Sunday dinner, with my sister and grandparents etc there. Instead of a roast they did a chicken and veg buffet thing so I could find it easier to eat, which was sweet. I had a big plate and they gave me the smallest chicken breast, and I ate half of it and a bit of all the veg (either steamed or roasted in fry light) so there was loads left on my plate obv but I got away with it by saying I had pigged out beforehand. And I left the potatoes. Success!!

 

[oodles83]

Also, so excited - we're booking a family holiday to Florida in March! And I look forward to doing rollercoasters and flying with no seat extender! 2016 is going to be soooo exciting!!