Well survived my first day back at work post banding. After 10 mins, I felt like I had never been away...the bitching, moaning, and whinging had started......I often wonder ....am I really working with a bunch of 25-60 yr old women, or a bunch of year 8 school girls????? Believe me...they act like the later!!
Anyway, lucky the ward was busy, and they didn't get time for any further moaning/whinging for the morning!!
As I predicted, my eating was much more controlled today whilst I was at work. Optifast shake for morning tea, (didn't have time for breaky this am), salmon and tomato toasted sandwich for lunch,
and half a banana about 3pm.
Couldn't eat all of my roast chicken dinner that my hubby cooked tonight...so thats a good thing hey??
Did I mention that he has taken time off work to be Mr Mum during the school hols...so our kids don't have to be orphans for the hols!! ....He was actually supposed to be going to Sydney for a rugby boys trip, but used his savings to pay for my lap band op....yep...he's pretty bloody awesome....but don't worry he's not one of those sickly too good to be true guys...he definitely has bad qualities...I'm sure you will hear about these as my blog progresses.....but today, I'm lovin him silly cause I came home from work, and he had dinner organised...and the floors vacuumed (think that had something to with me telling him that us women find men with a vacuum an amazing aphrodisiac) ;)
Anyway...all up..it was a pretty good day...
Oh, by the way, lots of people at work looked me up and down (to check out my weight loss...I'm guessing) but only 1 person told me that I look great, and that she could really notice my weight loss....I then started wondering...did she just say that cause she knows I've had the band, and she felt obligated???? Anway, I'm feeling great...cause I can notice my uniforms feeling looser!! It may not happen over-night, but it will happen!
Good night my gorgeous fellow bloggers,
Thanks to all 3 of my followers....even though there may not be many of you...i love your comments, feedback, and support!
Sorry this post is a little all over the place...you might need to get used to it...its how my mind moves...x
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Stuffing my Anxiety till it bursts...
I think I have what you would call emotional eating...I'm obviously feeling a bit nervous/anxious about going back to work tomorrow-see my post HiHo HiHo, because I've been just eating myself silly today!!
I've managed to eat this today:-
Bacon and egg roll-and felt very uncomfortable after it!
2 pieces of rocky-road...actually 3 now
tub of passionfruit yoghurt
8 vitawheat crackers with vegemite
and its only 4.50pm!!
Stop me now! Lapband can you hear me?????
Although, as I'm re-reading this, I guess pre-lapband, I would have easily had double this amount on one of my naughty days....just disappointed in some of my choices today..
Wish my hubby would eat whats in his Darryl-Lea "Dad's bag"...so I won't!!
I've managed to eat this today:-
Bacon and egg roll-and felt very uncomfortable after it!
2 pieces of rocky-road...actually 3 now
tub of passionfruit yoghurt
8 vitawheat crackers with vegemite
and its only 4.50pm!!
Stop me now! Lapband can you hear me?????
Although, as I'm re-reading this, I guess pre-lapband, I would have easily had double this amount on one of my naughty days....just disappointed in some of my choices today..
Wish my hubby would eat whats in his Darryl-Lea "Dad's bag"...so I won't!!
Cravings.......
CRAVING.....
Before my lapband I was having 2-3 coke zero or diet coke per day.....I love the stuff...it gives me a boost, and I feel full after having one. Well, I have attempted twice since being banded to have some. The first time was in week 2 post op, and I went to a girlfriends house for morning tea....she offered me a coke zero, and I accepted without even thinking about "the rules" ....anyway, after the first sip I developed that bloody shoulder tip pain, and it continued for the next 2 -3hrs!! Then by that afternoon, the top of my stomach had swollen/bloated, so much that I was really uncomfortable, and even my 13yr old son said "hey mum, whats the go with your tummy ...it looks weird!" Anyway, I began to panic, and 'phoned a friend' who was banded a couple of years ago...she advised me to steer clear of any carbonated drinks for a while. ...and to go to the hospital if it didn't subside...well eventually it went down, but I felt uncomfortable for a couple of days.
2nd attempt was last Sunday, when we had my hubby's family around for a bbq lunch. I opened my coke zero early in the am...to try and make it go flat.....and didn't start drinking it until hrs later,but same thing happened...immediate shoulder pain....but abdo didn't swell as much....so forgot about the coke zero, and had a few glasses of white wine instead!! Which went straight to my head, and I was a giggling mess by 5pm that afternoon.
Maybe this will be really good for me, cause I will have to just drink water at work rather than my desired coke zero! Think of all those chemicals that my body won't be getting....chemicals that I was obviously quite addicted to.
Today I have been craving the stuff....and the sad thing is our "beer fridge" has a dedicated shelf for my coke zero...and its full at the moment!! Will I put myself through pain, and torture just to get a sip of the stuff............who knows???
I also really love beer...especially in the warmer weather...I haven't tried a beer yey, but I'm guessing a similar reaction would happen.....does this mean I will never be able to enjoy a nice icy cold beer again???
Please tell me that it will get better with time?
I haven't really craved anything else....just eating what I feel like, but small amounts, and trying to make healthy choices. I didn't think this band was restricting my eating at all, but the other night we made homemade hamburgers, and I could only eat 3/4 of it...should have probably stopped after 1/2, because then I ended up getting pain in my shoulder for an hour or so. Before banding I would have eaten 1 and a half burgers, sometimes 2 burgers easily, followed by dessert an hour later!! And I wondered how I got to be 128kg...LOL...I wonder ...doh! So obviously the band is working...think I will be lucky if I can eat a burger at all once I have a fill done!!
Would love to hear if fellow bandits have had cravings ??
 |
| Shake me baby!! |
Before my lapband I was having 2-3 coke zero or diet coke per day.....I love the stuff...it gives me a boost, and I feel full after having one. Well, I have attempted twice since being banded to have some. The first time was in week 2 post op, and I went to a girlfriends house for morning tea....she offered me a coke zero, and I accepted without even thinking about "the rules" ....anyway, after the first sip I developed that bloody shoulder tip pain, and it continued for the next 2 -3hrs!! Then by that afternoon, the top of my stomach had swollen/bloated, so much that I was really uncomfortable, and even my 13yr old son said "hey mum, whats the go with your tummy ...it looks weird!" Anyway, I began to panic, and 'phoned a friend' who was banded a couple of years ago...she advised me to steer clear of any carbonated drinks for a while. ...and to go to the hospital if it didn't subside...well eventually it went down, but I felt uncomfortable for a couple of days.
 |
| This is making my mouth water...just looking at this picture!! |
2nd attempt was last Sunday, when we had my hubby's family around for a bbq lunch. I opened my coke zero early in the am...to try and make it go flat.....and didn't start drinking it until hrs later,but same thing happened...immediate shoulder pain....but abdo didn't swell as much....so forgot about the coke zero, and had a few glasses of white wine instead!! Which went straight to my head, and I was a giggling mess by 5pm that afternoon.
Maybe this will be really good for me, cause I will have to just drink water at work rather than my desired coke zero! Think of all those chemicals that my body won't be getting....chemicals that I was obviously quite addicted to.
Today I have been craving the stuff....and the sad thing is our "beer fridge" has a dedicated shelf for my coke zero...and its full at the moment!! Will I put myself through pain, and torture just to get a sip of the stuff............who knows???
I also really love beer...especially in the warmer weather...I haven't tried a beer yey, but I'm guessing a similar reaction would happen.....does this mean I will never be able to enjoy a nice icy cold beer again???
Please tell me that it will get better with time?
Would love to hear if fellow bandits have had cravings ??
 |
| Cheers!! |
Saturday, September 25, 2010
HiHO, Hi HO...
Well, I have had 3 weeks off work, and have to go back on Monday. I am feeling ambivalent feelings regarding returning to work.
Happiness:- because if I stay home any longer I will go crazy...I need to work to keep my sanity. I'm looking forward to seeing the girls that I work with...(well most of them). I also have more contolled eating behaviour when I work because I don't have time to get bored, and I tend to just strictly eat meals only without snacking.
Anxiety:- I'm feeling anxious because before I went off for my sick leave to have my op, I was close to burn-out....I was putting in 10hr days without lunch breaks (which explains why I did so well on my optifast diet LOL). I was feeling overwhelmed by the whole job, and feeling very unappreciated, and unheard by my boss. I'm relieving in a management position, and have had to bring in a lot of new changes over the past 3 months....and many of my staff are having a hard time adjusting, or are just feeling unhappy in general.
I'm hopeless at delegating, and therefore end up stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work I need to get done.
I have 3months, and approx 10days to go in this position.....and then hopefully I can go back to being a great nurse, who doesn't have to think about rosters, reports, meetings, staffing levels, and trying to keep everyone happy! I can just worry about looking after my patients, and making them better!!
Nervous:- I'm feeling nervous about the reaction I will get from my colleagues. The staff all know that I have been banded, and most of them have been extremely supportive....but I feel like I've lost minimal amount of weight since the op.....I'm worried that they will be thinking that I have failed because I haven't lost an amazing amount of weight post-op....does this make sense??? I know that it is a slow process, but a couple of the other nurses have also been banded earlier in the year, and they came back to work looking awesome...you could really see the difference in them....they had to buy new uniforms! Although they did have 6-8 weeks off work post-op....
Yes, I know....we are all different....
Hopeful:- I'm feeling very hopeful, and positive that I am going to go back to work and be as calm on the inside as I am on the outside. I'm hopeful that I can learn to accept help from staff and to delegate when I am unable to cope with all of the work. I'm hopeful that I can be a great role model for my staff. I'm hoping I can learn to prioritise, and leave the not so important things for another time, and to prioritise ME and MY FAMILY before anything else...and to leave on time everyday...unless I need to help resuscitate somebody!
..........its off to work I go!!!
Happiness:- because if I stay home any longer I will go crazy...I need to work to keep my sanity. I'm looking forward to seeing the girls that I work with...(well most of them). I also have more contolled eating behaviour when I work because I don't have time to get bored, and I tend to just strictly eat meals only without snacking.
Anxiety:- I'm feeling anxious because before I went off for my sick leave to have my op, I was close to burn-out....I was putting in 10hr days without lunch breaks (which explains why I did so well on my optifast diet LOL). I was feeling overwhelmed by the whole job, and feeling very unappreciated, and unheard by my boss. I'm relieving in a management position, and have had to bring in a lot of new changes over the past 3 months....and many of my staff are having a hard time adjusting, or are just feeling unhappy in general.
I'm hopeless at delegating, and therefore end up stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work I need to get done.
I have 3months, and approx 10days to go in this position.....and then hopefully I can go back to being a great nurse, who doesn't have to think about rosters, reports, meetings, staffing levels, and trying to keep everyone happy! I can just worry about looking after my patients, and making them better!!
Nervous:- I'm feeling nervous about the reaction I will get from my colleagues. The staff all know that I have been banded, and most of them have been extremely supportive....but I feel like I've lost minimal amount of weight since the op.....I'm worried that they will be thinking that I have failed because I haven't lost an amazing amount of weight post-op....does this make sense??? I know that it is a slow process, but a couple of the other nurses have also been banded earlier in the year, and they came back to work looking awesome...you could really see the difference in them....they had to buy new uniforms! Although they did have 6-8 weeks off work post-op....
Yes, I know....we are all different....
Hopeful:- I'm feeling very hopeful, and positive that I am going to go back to work and be as calm on the inside as I am on the outside. I'm hopeful that I can learn to accept help from staff and to delegate when I am unable to cope with all of the work. I'm hopeful that I can be a great role model for my staff. I'm hoping I can learn to prioritise, and leave the not so important things for another time, and to prioritise ME and MY FAMILY before anything else...and to leave on time everyday...unless I need to help resuscitate somebody!
..........its off to work I go!!!
10 things I hate about........
.....being fat!
1. Self Esteem non-existant
2. No energy
3. not able to fit into a cinema seat without half squatting first then sliding my arse back, under the armrests to fit in there...once there unable to move until the movie is over, and people around me have left...and the whole time praying that there won't be an emergency evacuation for a fire etc, because if I tried to get up without sliding my bum forward first, I would be taking the whole row of seats with me carrying them on my saddle-bags!
4. Not being able to wear nice, normal sized, age appropriate clothes...although some shops are getting better eg citychic, dream diva etc
5. not being able to wear long boots in winter...I struggle to do up my ankle boots!
6. The obstacles I have to overcome just to cut my toenails.....first my massive boobs smothering me, then to get over my gut, and then to try and block out the lower back pain from doing this massive challenge...and to actually be able to see what I'm doing...its a wonder I have still got 10 toes! Anyway this is why I LOVE pedicures!!
7. Getting puffed out, and exhausted when I do something active with my kids.
8. Being unable to run- huge boobs, bad back, and unfit being the main contributors
9. Being nervous that I'll have to ask for an extension seat belt on flights...not had to do this yet...but last time I flew, I could only just get my belt done up, and was quite uncomfortable!
10. Not having many pics of myself with my children, as I don't like my photo being taken when I'm this overweight. I regret this...because you can't rewind time....and they often ask me when looking at photos "where were you mum?"
11. Feeling like I have no right to be in normal size shops, or beauty salons...I feel paranoid walking in there.
12. Not dancing when I want to deperately...because I don't want people to be traumatised by my wobbly bits.
13. My low libido...the more my weight goes up the lower my libido drops...
14. The guilt, disappointment, and depression that leads to the vicious cycle of binge eating, and putting on more weight.
15. Enduring hot, sweltering summers sitting on the side of the pool watching my kids swim, and feeling jealous of all the skinny mums, and also jealous of the not so skinny mums who had the guts to get in there with their kids and get cool, and have fun....
Now I know you all think I can't count but I just had to get those few other things down as well. Probably could think of another 10...but don't want to bore you all!
I've written this list not to sound like a miserable, sad sack......but to look back on when I have shed some more kilos...its so I can remind myself not to become complacent!!
It's also to see how much my life may change in the next year. I will review the list in a year, and see how many of them still exist. I will turn my whole life around to point in a positive direction, not just by losing weight, but by changing the way I think and feel!
1. Self Esteem non-existant
2. No energy
3. not able to fit into a cinema seat without half squatting first then sliding my arse back, under the armrests to fit in there...once there unable to move until the movie is over, and people around me have left...and the whole time praying that there won't be an emergency evacuation for a fire etc, because if I tried to get up without sliding my bum forward first, I would be taking the whole row of seats with me carrying them on my saddle-bags!
4. Not being able to wear nice, normal sized, age appropriate clothes...although some shops are getting better eg citychic, dream diva etc
5. not being able to wear long boots in winter...I struggle to do up my ankle boots!
6. The obstacles I have to overcome just to cut my toenails.....first my massive boobs smothering me, then to get over my gut, and then to try and block out the lower back pain from doing this massive challenge...and to actually be able to see what I'm doing...its a wonder I have still got 10 toes! Anyway this is why I LOVE pedicures!!
7. Getting puffed out, and exhausted when I do something active with my kids.
8. Being unable to run- huge boobs, bad back, and unfit being the main contributors
9. Being nervous that I'll have to ask for an extension seat belt on flights...not had to do this yet...but last time I flew, I could only just get my belt done up, and was quite uncomfortable!
10. Not having many pics of myself with my children, as I don't like my photo being taken when I'm this overweight. I regret this...because you can't rewind time....and they often ask me when looking at photos "where were you mum?"
11. Feeling like I have no right to be in normal size shops, or beauty salons...I feel paranoid walking in there.
12. Not dancing when I want to deperately...because I don't want people to be traumatised by my wobbly bits.
13. My low libido...the more my weight goes up the lower my libido drops...
14. The guilt, disappointment, and depression that leads to the vicious cycle of binge eating, and putting on more weight.
15. Enduring hot, sweltering summers sitting on the side of the pool watching my kids swim, and feeling jealous of all the skinny mums, and also jealous of the not so skinny mums who had the guts to get in there with their kids and get cool, and have fun....
Now I know you all think I can't count but I just had to get those few other things down as well. Probably could think of another 10...but don't want to bore you all!
I've written this list not to sound like a miserable, sad sack......but to look back on when I have shed some more kilos...its so I can remind myself not to become complacent!!
It's also to see how much my life may change in the next year. I will review the list in a year, and see how many of them still exist. I will turn my whole life around to point in a positive direction, not just by losing weight, but by changing the way I think and feel!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
My decision to get a lapband...and hopefully change my life on many levels.
Many people ask...why?
It took many factors to make my final decision to get a lapband. I had been secretly wanting to do this for approximately the last 2 yrs! It took me 18 months to broach the subject with my husband....I just didn't know how he would respond, because he has always told me that I'm beautiful...and still does. He tells me on a regular basis how much he loves me just the way I am. How could I tell him how much I hate myself ...well basically I just cried, and cried...and eventually blubbered it out, and told him about the lapband idea. His initial reaction was..."you definitely don't need to do that"....but then he disclosed to me that he knew that I haven't been truly happy for many years...and asked.."is it because of your weight"....he thought I had been falling out of love with him...OMG!! That poor guy hanging in there...through my emotional slide into weight induced depression. Anyway he agreed to come to an information session to find out about this procedure that may end up being a "miracle cure" for his wife's chronic unhappiness, and chronic low self esteem.
I was so bad at times that I would almost physically cringe when he paid me a compliment, or when he touched me...I felt unworthy of his love. I would cause an arguement over trivial shit-so that he wouldn't be nice to me! I soon realised that my weight issue was affecting my marriage in a big way...and lapband or not...I needed to deal with some of these negative emotions...otherwise one day that gorgeous husband of mine might not be there......a truly big wake up call!
Anyway, off we went to the info session.....the surgeon giving the talk went through different things that can be improved from losing weight...and the word "libido" came up after self esteem, heart health, diabetes, fitness, back pain etc...... I think my husband seen that one L word and didn't listen to another thing for the next hour......as soon as we walked out the door he said "you are ringing them tomorrow to book in!!" LOL! Well he is a male!
He has been so supportive through this process so far, he is amazing! I know I've still got a very long way to go....but I think recognising my problems, and taking action is the first step to my new perspective on life!
So LOVE is a very big motivator.
My mother has told me from a very early age "that to love someone...you first need to learn to love yourself"....funny how I haven't worked out the meaning to that until now...am I slow or what? But from this day forward when my hubby gives me a compliment...I'm going to say "Thankyou" instead of "please don't..."
At this stage, I'm teary, feeling quite exposed, and drained...but you know what I feel kilos lighter for sharing that info that has been bottled up for the past 5-6 yrs...maybe more! I've never told anyone....so there it is reason 1 for getting a lapband!
It took many factors to make my final decision to get a lapband. I had been secretly wanting to do this for approximately the last 2 yrs! It took me 18 months to broach the subject with my husband....I just didn't know how he would respond, because he has always told me that I'm beautiful...and still does. He tells me on a regular basis how much he loves me just the way I am. How could I tell him how much I hate myself ...well basically I just cried, and cried...and eventually blubbered it out, and told him about the lapband idea. His initial reaction was..."you definitely don't need to do that"....but then he disclosed to me that he knew that I haven't been truly happy for many years...and asked.."is it because of your weight"....he thought I had been falling out of love with him...OMG!! That poor guy hanging in there...through my emotional slide into weight induced depression. Anyway he agreed to come to an information session to find out about this procedure that may end up being a "miracle cure" for his wife's chronic unhappiness, and chronic low self esteem.
I was so bad at times that I would almost physically cringe when he paid me a compliment, or when he touched me...I felt unworthy of his love. I would cause an arguement over trivial shit-so that he wouldn't be nice to me! I soon realised that my weight issue was affecting my marriage in a big way...and lapband or not...I needed to deal with some of these negative emotions...otherwise one day that gorgeous husband of mine might not be there......a truly big wake up call!
Anyway, off we went to the info session.....the surgeon giving the talk went through different things that can be improved from losing weight...and the word "libido" came up after self esteem, heart health, diabetes, fitness, back pain etc...... I think my husband seen that one L word and didn't listen to another thing for the next hour......as soon as we walked out the door he said "you are ringing them tomorrow to book in!!" LOL! Well he is a male!
He has been so supportive through this process so far, he is amazing! I know I've still got a very long way to go....but I think recognising my problems, and taking action is the first step to my new perspective on life!
So LOVE is a very big motivator.
My mother has told me from a very early age "that to love someone...you first need to learn to love yourself"....funny how I haven't worked out the meaning to that until now...am I slow or what? But from this day forward when my hubby gives me a compliment...I'm going to say "Thankyou" instead of "please don't..."
At this stage, I'm teary, feeling quite exposed, and drained...but you know what I feel kilos lighter for sharing that info that has been bottled up for the past 5-6 yrs...maybe more! I've never told anyone....so there it is reason 1 for getting a lapband!
Early Days.....
Hi !!
Well here I am... I'm still very much on my "L" plates with this blogging thing...so it could be interesting.
I had lap band surgery on the 3rd Sept, 2010. So I am 2 weeks and 5 days post op...and feeling much better than the first week when all I could think is OMG what have I done to myself???? Lots of shoulder pain, bloated and nauseated!! The pain killers they gave me to go home on made the nausea problem worse...so heat packs, and panadol became my new best friends! the shoulder pain was excruciatingly cruel and lasted until about day 6...I continue to get it occasionally now...but it usually only lasts a few minutes...and goes away spontaneously...thankGod! My gorgeous hubby kept reassuring me that it was only "early days" and that "it would be all worth it...just like our children were worth every contraction during labour" ...made me want to laugh...but my tummy was too sore...as if he could even imagine what a contraction was like....men!
I did the optifast diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery...and was ELATED when I had lost 12 kgs when they weighed me pre-op. However I haven't lost a gram since the op...Do I ask for a refund???hehe
Hoping that when I go back on the 6th October for my first adjustment that I will continue to shed some kgs. I have been able to eat normal foods for the past 5-6 days...definitely not the same amount...not that I've let myself try, as I'm petrified of stretching my new little pouch stomach above the band. But no probs with the eating!! Hunger is about the same....so guessing I just need to wait until adjustment....
Patience...its only early days!!
Starting weight 128kg on 28/07/10 at surgeon consult.
Todays weight 114kg-just weighed myself whilst doing this post...so if my scales are correct...I have actually lost 2kg since op...YeeHa...something has happened!!
My goal is to be 110kgs by October long weekend....not sure whether 4kgs can come off in 1.5 weeks...think I might be having myself on....but any loss will be good!
Well here I am... I'm still very much on my "L" plates with this blogging thing...so it could be interesting.
I had lap band surgery on the 3rd Sept, 2010. So I am 2 weeks and 5 days post op...and feeling much better than the first week when all I could think is OMG what have I done to myself???? Lots of shoulder pain, bloated and nauseated!! The pain killers they gave me to go home on made the nausea problem worse...so heat packs, and panadol became my new best friends! the shoulder pain was excruciatingly cruel and lasted until about day 6...I continue to get it occasionally now...but it usually only lasts a few minutes...and goes away spontaneously...thankGod! My gorgeous hubby kept reassuring me that it was only "early days" and that "it would be all worth it...just like our children were worth every contraction during labour" ...made me want to laugh...but my tummy was too sore...as if he could even imagine what a contraction was like....men!
I did the optifast diet for 3-4 weeks prior to surgery...and was ELATED when I had lost 12 kgs when they weighed me pre-op. However I haven't lost a gram since the op...Do I ask for a refund???hehe
Hoping that when I go back on the 6th October for my first adjustment that I will continue to shed some kgs. I have been able to eat normal foods for the past 5-6 days...definitely not the same amount...not that I've let myself try, as I'm petrified of stretching my new little pouch stomach above the band. But no probs with the eating!! Hunger is about the same....so guessing I just need to wait until adjustment....
Patience...its only early days!!
Starting weight 128kg on 28/07/10 at surgeon consult.
Todays weight 114kg-just weighed myself whilst doing this post...so if my scales are correct...I have actually lost 2kg since op...YeeHa...something has happened!!
My goal is to be 110kgs by October long weekend....not sure whether 4kgs can come off in 1.5 weeks...think I might be having myself on....but any loss will be good!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)