Well I've got restriction +++ with this new band - a weight loss has restarted - great. However what has returned? Yep, the heartburn. Getting a tad taken out of the band on Wed - ah the search for the "sweetspot" continues.
It's going ok - yesterday was hard.
It went like this:
2 coffees - 200 ml milk = 130 cals
Optifast bar x 3 = 690 cals
Lots of vege soup chicken stock and green veges = negligible cals
Then picks of a few biscotti, a meatball, a slither of turkish bread with sour cream - I reckon about 200-300 cals of pickings!
I did a 5 km walk for my "sins".
SO overall not bashing myself up about it.
Back on the straight and narrow today. Weight down to 83.9kg this morning. Yippee.
It's hard already.
Just finished two bowls of the vege soup - it's already wearing thin! But I'm keeping the right attitude - it's all for a good cause.
Won't be exercising today as I'm coming down with a cold it seems and I'm trying to get my body not to succumb.
Food diary:
2 flat white coffees 130 cals
2 Opti bars 460 cals total
soup - neglible
On track to have more soup tonight, maybe some salad and one more Opti bar.
I've been struggling since the new lapband (Dec 2010) - my weight has been increasing each month. It's depressing of course but I'm wanting to ensure that nothing else is amiss.
I had the band tightened a few weeks ago and I'm happy with the level of restriction but still no weight loss. I'm eating too much and no doubt drinking too much alcohol (no lapband for wine!!).
So this morning I've started on Optifast for a week or two. I can't stomach the shakes so I've got the bars. The plan is to live on 3 bars a day plus lots of vegetable soup (allowable veg, not potato and pumpkin etc!).
I've also not been exercising as much since this last lapband so the plan is to go back to 4 minimum sessions a week. I've done the old 5 km Rothbury walk (the one I use to do all the time in the early days lapband mark 1) on Sat and Sun so it's either the walk or 45 mins flat out in the gym on most days of the week.
I'm going to Barcelona for a conference on 25th June so I've got three weeks to lose at least 4 kg. I've got to lose this as I can't afford to buy new clothes to take away!
Food diaries will be kept. So today so far:
2 x flat white coffees (200 ml of full cream milk) = 230 cals
2 x Optifast Berry bar = 430 cals
Lots of my Vege soup - broccoli, cauliflour, carrot, onion, shallott, tomato, celery in chicken stock made with stock cubes = neglible calories
Total for the day about 700 cals.
Exercise 5 km brisk walk with the dog! Maybe burnt 400 calories.
Good day!
It's been three months since I was re-banded. It's going pretty well but I've had several adjustments and I'm only now getting some worthwhile restriction - last fill was 2 days ago. The weight goes on so quickly when I can eat more - was up to just over 85kg but sitting around 84ish at the moment. I what's called a Midband whereas before I had a Swedish band.
So, overall it has been good. No reflux or heartburn - phew. Incisions healed without any issues.
I am now Dr Melanie, having been awarded my PhD in media and communication earlier this month. This is the picture the uni took of me as I handed in my bound thesis for the library collection.
I see Dr David Martin this Friday for my check up and hopefully my first fill in the new band. For the last two weeks I've been able to eat pretty normally - as in pre-band eating. Trying hard to be sensible but I'm unsure how much exercise to do until I've been given the all clear by Dr Martin. Weight around 83-84kg so ok. Wouldn't want it to go higher so glad the fill will be this week. This was taken last week - dressed to kill for a friend's 50th birthday in the dress I bought in Esprit in Helsinki, Finland last year.
All good - surgical wounds look good. Love that the surgeon cut over the previous scars in the main so my stomach shouldn't look too much worse when all this is healed. Nausea abated and I'm getting hungry. I've been taking it easy - really soft foods etc and I'm feeling generally satisfied. I'm still getting some soreness, especially around the largest incision (about 5cm or 2" long) and also where I can feel the band's port under the skin. It's funny having it in a different place from last time as I'd become used to feeling it where it has been fro the last 2 and a half years and now it's moved.
I've got to remember I'm still healing and try not to overdo things - started cleaning the pool yesterday and did a bit too much. Everyone is still running around after me so that's good. I also had a glass of wine last night and although it did not induce heartburn - yippee - it didn't really agree with me and gave me a headache so off the wine for a bit longer. My poor liver won't know what's hit it!
Swelling continues to abate and the fluid load is dropping. My weight was down to 81.9kg this morning. Nice to see an 81 on the scales.
Overall I can't believe how quickly I, getting over this operation. Much better than last time although I was 25 kg (that's 60lb) heavier and that's much more bulk to heal isn't it? I know my overall health is in a better state than it was in 2008 too - it all makes such a difference.
Day 6 and I'm feeling human again. Nausea has abated and I'm eating soft foods. The swelling has subsided a lot and the surgical incisions are healing well. I picked up a head cold but this is evern better today. People are telling me I'm looking pale but hey, that's to be expected I'd imagine.
Here's the progress of the swelling going down:
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| Day 1 |
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| Day 3 |
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| Today |
Struggled a bit over the last two days - mainly with nausea. I think it's the antibiotics they've put me on and I'm balking at continuing them but I know I must. Just the thought of taking them turns my stomach. I've been taking Oxy-Contin syrup for pain relief but even the thought of that was intolerable yesterday no I'm making do with panadol mini-caps apart from bedtime relief.
Yes, I'm moaning. I feel like eating something and have had some milky bran cereal this morning. I'm supposed to be on free fluids but between a kind of hunger and the nausea I feel like moving to some real food. I'll be sensible of course - it's just the nausea that's the pits. I fee;l for people on chemotherapy. How on earth does one continue to to take the medication that makes them feel so desperately ill?
Anyway, I appear to be healing well and the pain isn't too bad at all. Still taking it easy.
Hope everyone's Christmas was/is lovely. Ours was quiet but really wonderful.
Well I'm home one day post op and feeling pretty good. I've had a Laparoscopic esophagogastric fundoplasty, a repair of a sort of hiatus hernia and a new lapband. I am not sick at all post op and have had brilliant first 30 hours since the op.
I've got shoulder pain (referred pain from diaphragm etc) and some localised wound pain, especially around the port site but it's to be expected. I've been given good pain relievers and so all is under control. I know when I need pain relief when I'm finding it hard to breath because of pain. But no vomiting or dramas like the first time (July 2008).
Strathfield Private Hospital staff were excellent and the nursing walaprs of a very high standard. This is a picture of my wounds - there's one not in shot at the bottom of my sternum. The oozing bloody one has stopped oozing and the dressing was changed before I was sent home. My belly looks like I'm 6 months pregnant with the gas from the laproscopy procedure but that will go down in coming days.
Diet-wise I'm on fluids for two weeks, mushy purees for the two weeks after that and then slow introduction of normal foods - more conservative than last time due to the more extensive surgery. That's it for now.
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| The bloated stomach with laproscopy cuts on the day of the surgery 22 Dec 2010. |
Well to cut a long story short I am being Rebanded next wednesday. My tests this week (barium swallow, nuclear reflux and gastroscopy) my ongoing reflux is caused by hiatus hernia, oesophageal dilatation and pseudo achalasia! Dr Crawford referred me to dr David Martin martinobesitysurgerg.com.au and dr Martin will be doing the surgery next week. Happy Xmas eh? At least it will be over and done with and I can get on with things in 2011.
Well, I've still be struyggling with reflux and heartburn and so my lapband doctor has said it's time to see the gastric sleeve surgeon. I'm seeing Dr David Martin in Strathfield next Monday http://www.martinsurgery.com.au/david_martin.html
I'll let you know how I go.
About two years ago I wrote this on this blog:
My aim is by the time I turn 50 (23-2-2012) that i will have a normal BMI and have completed the PhD thesis and thus be a Doctor of Philosophy. My dream is to have a fantastic graduation photo taken - not like the one I had taken when I received my masters degree in 1998 - I hid this for years and eventually just threw it in the bin it was so awful. The triple chin and eyes obscured by chubby cheeks as I smiled - never again!
Well, in two weeks time I'll submit my PhD thesis for examination so by February 2011 i should know whether I'll make my goal of graduating and being Dr Melanie by my 50th birthday. It looks like it's going to happen! I am on track to have a much better graduation photo in 2011/12 than I did back in 1998 when I had my Masters graduation - only one double chin these days.
Honestly it is great to look back and see goals set a few years ago coming to fruition.
I had .25ml fill this week and I can really feel some restriction. I'm hoping I can cope with this level of restriction without all of the heartburn and reflux like last time. I think the trick will be to avoid the alcohol and avoid overeating ie stop when I'm satisfied, not stuffed. I still enjoy eating way too much!
I had drifted up to 85 kg with less restriction but have come back down to around 83kg - with this fill I hope to get back to around 79-80kg for summer. I hope to start back at gym this week - my knee injury from skiing a while back was worse than first thought.
I'm in the Maitland Repertory's end of year musical play (along with my teenaged kids!) where i play an old music hall chorus girl. So I want to look trim and feel fit. http://maitlandrepertory.com/
That's it for now - pretty good overall. Interestingly my recent discussion with my lapband surgeon indicated that the gastric sleeve was fast coming online as a really viable alternative to the lapband - especially as its "set and forget" instead of the adjustments being needed and also less reflux issues. I'd consider this procedure if you're considering WLS - the reflux issue is the pits.
Lots has happened since early July - been to Slovenia, Italy and Finland and back again with my daughter - we had a great time. The conference, BledCom, was wonderful - http://www.bledcom.com/ if you're interested.
Weight was stable whilst travelling but on return to being deskbound and writing a thesis and working from home (graxing on unhealthy food throughout the day) and with less gym time and with less fluid in the band my weight crept up to nearly 85 kg! Ooh what a shock.
So went back Dr Crawford to get the .25 ml put back in that I had taken out before I went travelling in June. Back to gym a little and the weight has come back to 83.5 so it's on the right track.
Went skiiing two weeks a ago and although had a brilliant time I fell (whilst standing on skis in a t-bar queue!!!) and twisted my knee badly - so no gym for two weeks. Still it's a temporary set back.
It's still a hard road even with a band. But not as hard as without it. And there's the point. I see my daughter following the same track I started out on so many year ago. She lost 8kg in the first half of this year on Weight Watchers and has put on 9kg since June once she drifted back to the old habits. Doesn't that sound familiar to us all!
So I'm in the last month of writing my PHD thesis - so hopefully will graduate as I dreamed about over 2 years ago - in 2011 looking slim and rather gorgeous! Who'd have thought.
So here are some latest pics -
Melanie at the top of Eyre Intenrational Run on Mt Perisher - Australia's highest mountain Mt Koziuosko in the background there - yes, it's just a bump on a plateau and rather undramatic!
All is good although had .25 ml removed from my band as I was having a little reflux and didn't want it to be a hassle during my travels. I've been to New York last week and fly out to Slovenia today for another conference. All is good - weight still stable at 81-82kg. This morning weighed in at 80.9kg.
Things continue on a reaosnably even keel. Weight very stable 81-82kg and I'd like it to be lower. Overall I'm pleased that I've been stable to 6 months. Weight stability has been a very rare state in my life. So that's good.
Not quite as much exercise in the last month but getting back on the straight and narrow.
Tried the new Zoomba-style Latino exercise class tonight - was quite good and my background long ago in bellydancing helped. My daughter thought it was too jazz ballet-like. I'd probably try it again. I was just good to have a bit of a dance. I'm going to try and get my husband into tango - we did a few lessons and we were quite good and liked it a lot. We'll see.
The only challenge remains reflux and heartburn sometimes and I've had to increase my medication. Still, it's better than being 25-30 kg heavier. If I can hit my 50th birthday 30 kg lighter than I was on my 40th birthday (my heaviest ever at 110kg!) I'll be a happy woman.
Just a quick update - nothing to report. Still on Somac and Tazac but no heartburn or reflux problems.
Still 80-81 kg - still doing gym 3 times a week - feeling fit.
Trialling slightly lighter hair colour so I'll post some pics if it works out!
We had a day at the beach in late April - the last of the summer I think. This is just after sunset - those two sole people in the water are my daughter and her new boyfriend. What a picture they made!
There's not much to blog about at present in terms of lapband stuff - weight is stable at around 80-81 kg. Ideally it would be trending down below 80 but it's not happening. I could knock off all alcohol, up the gym from 3 to 6 times a week but frankly I'm travelling ok. The restriction is about right in terms of amounts of food and heartburn issues.
I'm very proud of my daughter - she's been so motivated and has lost over 7kg on Weight Watchers online. Here we are pictured with my dad (hours before his major heart attack! - he's going ok now).
Not much to blog about on the band front. I'm happy with my current level of restriction. The heartburn is under control with medication and there's no reflux. The trend is a little downward weight-wise which is great. Getting a lapband is certainly the most positive thing I've done re health and weight. You've just got to persist and work with it.
More fill on Tuesday so back up to around 8.5 ml in the 11 ml band.
Heartburn under control.
Weight stable at around 82 (plus or minus a kilo depending on the day etc).
Dr Crawford was very encouraging on Tuesday when we met - can't recommend him highly enough to anyone considering gastric banding in terms of the surgery and aftercare - he pointed out that I was no longer "fat" and this last 10 kilos was the icing on the cake so to speak. Even if I never lost another ounce my risk factors from dropping over 25 kg had decreased dramatically. This was reassuring.
I asked whether I should consider some more drastic surgery like the gastric sleeve or something to get down to the 70-ishmark. I wondered what his thoughts were regarding the risk of remaining in the low 80s versus the risks associated with more surgery. He thought for the time being we should persist with the band. He aslo pointed out that that reent research showed that people who were 10 kg overweight lived longer than people who were 10 kg underweight! I said I didn't think I'd ever have to worry about that problem.
So the band has been tightened in an attempt to get me under the 80kg mark again and track towards the 75kg goal. All good so far - I feel quite restricted which is great and have had none of the dreaded reflux. At the first sign of that the band has to be loosened. So there you have it. All good. Madly working on the thesis.
PS Where did the spellcheck go on blogger?
Still hovering at around 82kg. Have booked a fill/discussion of options with Dr Crawford for next Tuesday.
It's funny how I'm feeling like I'm fat at 82 kg - it's all relative I suppose.
Hard to believe that I could feel down about being 82 kg when it seems like an impossible dream 18 months ago.
I'm grateful for what I have.
Well it seems with a little more restriction and a big week at the gym I have some downward progress - I'm sitting around 81. My aim is to get sub-80kg by my birthday on Feb 23rd - we'll see.
I could still use some more restriction but will sit on this for another fortnight or so.
Overall it's good. Love my lapband!!
I had another ml added to the band last week - better restriction but still not enough. My motivation is down a bit but the weight is stable at around 82kg.
Still doing quite regular gym, still taking heartburn meds and they're not quite controlling the problem.
Back to the doctor in a fortnight or so for a review.
I have some restriction after Dr Crawford inserted 2 ml of additional fluid in my band - total of 7ml in the 11ml band. Not enough restriction but I'll wait for a week or so and see how things go.
Didn't feel like it but the scales helped motivate me to get there and work out - up over 82kg again.
Bring on Tuesday.
Next Tuesday afternoon is fill day - yeah!
Been trying to moderate intake. I have some restriction but not much with a half filled band. The biggest issue is that I'm not staying full for long and get hungry within two hours of eating the previous meal.
Gym still going so I think that is the secret to not gaining any more weight.
Happy 2010. According to my guide Mystic Medusa (astrology!) I'm in for the luckiest year in years with Jupiter in Pisces and it's also my Chinese year - Year of the Tiger - it all kicks in from February. Yippee.
Some restriction but not enough - can't wait for a fill on 19th.
Keeping up with the exercise but the weight is hovering between 81-82kg at present. I want my 78 back!! I know it's been quite a social and wine-fuelled festive season so the first thing is to cut that out for a while starting today.
I've very proud of my daughter at present - she's doing Weight Watchers online and going really well - focusing on healthy eating and exercise. We're trying to be gym junkies together.
Celebrated 23 years of married life yesterday with a dinner out with my husband. 23 years!
My daughter and I hit the gym and according to the machines I burnt off around 600 cals.
It was hard going but the second wind kicked in and the second half of the workout felt better than the first.
I have only slight restriction but I'm thankful for that - no heartburn at all for a few days.
Food diary: Milk for coffee (20 cals), lentils and toast (250 cals), cake (300 cals), chicken (200 cals), potato (100 cals), salad with oil (100 cals), wine (390 cals). Total 1440 cals.
Well I've managed to hover just below the 81kg mark for a little while and I'm aiming to keep it there. I still miss my "skinnier" self but figure until the restriction is re-added to the band this maybe as good as it's going to get.
The secret is I figure to limit alcohol intake and hit the gym. I've been managing a hard workout around 3 times a week and the alcohol hasn't been too bad.
The eating is still a tad outta control - I want more and more and the tiny bit of restriction is far from enough - still it is better than nothing (to which I can attest!).
Thanks to those readers who've left encouraging comments. It does lift my spirits.
I'm looking forward to the 19th January when I get some fill added to the band. However I'm not confident it will go well as if I forget one of my heartburn tablets it's back with a vengeance - and the band is only half full. We'll see.
