Good Morning Bandits and Happy Visitors,

So my hypochondria reached a new high yesterday. I had some pains in my tummy or chest but I wasn’t sure which. I rang the bariatric centre who said it was best to just come down. And check everything out.

I do have to say that the bariatric centre and the Avenue hospital were fantastic. If you live in Melbourne and your thinking about getting a Lap Band - go there. The postoperative support is absolutely fantastic.

So I went down there and explained that I have a pain, but since I had the operation, I have had a fear of my band slipping.

My doctor thought it was best that I eased my fears and double-checked that everything is fine by getting an X-ray.

The X-ray is called a Barium Swallow / Meal. Which means that you drink this chalkie tasting liquid and they have a look at what happens when you swallow through an X-ray. I have had one before - a few hours after surgery. It was interesting being in the same room in a completely different state.

So I got the X ray and went back to the Bariatric centre (about four doors away) and saw the doctor again.

She had a look and said that everything is fine and that pretty much all of it seemed to be in my head. Otherwise maybe I had some chest pain, but I would be silly to not mention that the pain all but disappeared after she said my band was fine… in my head I think.

So I am going on record now saying that because I have ruled out pretty much all of my health fears it’s time to announce that I am a hypochondria addict … no more! I will no longer obsess over these things anymore… time to get on with my life.

So I am fine, lap band’s fine and so is every other part I have had tested…

Hi there everyone,
I haven’t been keeping up to date with my blog. I have had a really hard time of late. My beautiful cat, Billy Corgan, died and I have had a real time getting over it. It’s just been really emotionally draining, and I feel like i have lost my best friend. I still really miss billy, but I am starting to get up and go about my life again… but even as i write this i am starting to get teary.

Anyway… my lap band has proved to be quite useful for stress and tears.. I used to overeat when I was sad. I would hole myself up with food.. food made me feel better. but instead of that.. this time I went off my food. I still ate enough to survive and all that, but there was no snacking. there was no late night coke cans… all good.

So two days after billy died, i went to the doctors and I had lost 4.5 kgs that month. Some of if would have been lost before billy died but overall it was a great docs visit.

So I am going well. I do however need to get back into exercise so I am off now to make an exercise plan.. has anyone got any tips?

Before I go I have noticed that some people have been getting to my website by searching things like “meal plan for lap bands”. Just a quick note on that.

1. Once you are done with the mushie stage and all of that, you should eat wholesome food that makes you feel good. Basically you can eat fatty/sugary foods. but you can’t eat enough of them to sustain your body. So you will feel much better eating some vegies or fruit.

2. Never eat foods that make you get a “productive burp” (burp that brings your food back). It will just upset you. You will need to find foods that do this because it’s different for everyone. For me it’s only really bread (more than a slice), rice and some stir frys. But for you it might be beans… who knows…

3. NEVER NEVER NEVER drink with food. It washes food through the food and you won’t loose weight.

4. I have found that a great breakfast is yogurt, frozen fruit and musli - just a little of each. A great lunch, two Ryvita’s with ham cheese or tomato (although the more you put on the ryvita the more chance you will have of only eating one of them). For dinner I just have what everyone else is having but a small ammount of.

Does anyone have any questions about lap bands?

c ya

So i went to the doctors again… I have still lost a little, but not enough…

So in the 1.5 hour to see the doctor, I figured it out. It’s the drinks. I shouldn’t drink anything that i do drink at the moment. My favorite drink, which is a low fat and low sugar iced coffee, is 400 calories… WTF! Once i realised this, I have realised where my weight is now coming from. It used to come from food and drinks. now however it is still coming from the drinks.

So that’s i am now a recovering coke(a-cola), iced coffee and juice addict. So I think I have it all figured it out.

On the good side, I went to the park today for a run! This is insane I don’t think I have ever run for exercise. I think the last time i ran to get somewhere fast was four or five years ago, and even then it killed me. I feel like a normal person. insane.

Well I am getting my hair cut tomorrow. I haven’t seen my hairdresser in three months. So lets see how he reacts.

BIGGER NEWS: I went to Kmart yesterday to buy some pants (yes all of mine fall down) and I went to the NORMAL GILRS department… AND I Purchased a pair of size 16 JEANS… as mentioned before, jeans are a true test!

AND I went to the doctors and weighed myself.

FREAKIN’ A!

Current Weight: 111 kgs
Goal Weight: 72 kgs
Only 39 kgs to go…

I know it’s has been two weeks since I have posted and I promise that after the next week you will be seeing updates everyday.

But I have spent the last two weeks, eating the right foods… OK OK OK I have had some fun size packets of chips. And some chocolate. But moderation is the key.

I mean the thing I am starting to realise that the LapBand™ has helped me lose weight and will continue helping me lose weight. But if I don’t eat the right foods and exercise I will just be thinner and unhealthy. The boast you feel from 3 vegetables is more than an energy drink. It lasts longer. And it does good.

I am really into roast beef at the moment. It’s tender enough for me to get down. The accompanying gravy wasn’t great for me but a treat isn’t the end of the world…right?

I have been taking dog on a walk almost everyday. Which has been great. He has been ultra happy and I have realised that if I take the pressure off exercising it’s really quite fun.

Ok so I have a deadline for my thesis (oh yes I am doing my Masters) this week so I need to work on that for a bit.

WEIGHT UPDATE NEXT WEEK!!! Lets see how far healthy eating and exercise gets me?

So I went to doctors today.

How on earth does one casually mention that they have constipation? My body is also retaining liquid.

So while I have lost a couple of inches around my tummy the scales told a different story.

I haven’t budged a bit.

It’s time to eat some fibre! Things that come from a can are not a diet. Fruit, vegies, protein and NO CHOCOLATE are a diet! Well a way of living.

On the brighter side… I went to DFO today and went and brought a pair of size 18 jeans. So it’s official (and everybody knows jeans are the test – not much give there) I am down from a SIZE 22-24 to an 18!!!!!

Current Weight: 114 kgs
Goal Weight: 72 kgs
Only 42 kgs to go…

I am still having problems with my back. The doctors at the bariatric centre don’t think that the back pain has anything to do with my band.

My GP doesn’t think it has anything to do with my band either, just one of those things I guess.

My GP suggested rubbing the muscle pain stuff, which works but only temporarily.

I am still officially losing weight, but without eating properly I am not feeling great. I am lazy and can’t exercise because my back hurts. Which means that I am not losing weight the way I want to.

I had really hit a low with the weight issue. I need to be exercising but the back pain is terrible.

It comes on at about 2pm everyday. Since I am not a morning person, I don’t exercise much in the morning. So by 2pm I am in pain and not even thinking of talking a walk.

The other side of the back issue is that I don’t feel like putting a lot of effort into cooking. So I have been living on the 8-year-old kid diet. Party pies, spaghetti etc

Not good.

Got more liquid put in my band today. (See below for more exciting news)

I had food poising the last few days so I haven’t really been in the mood for anything.

The liquid filling was not at all painful this time.
The back pain also hasn’t gone away. The doctor (the GP at the bariatric centre) suggested that it was muscular pain. But it had started to feel like its inside me…

I have booked in to see my normal GP tomorrow.

c

So with the big 19 kg news rocking my boat yesterday I didn’t get much done.

Today was the same storey. I woke up with a sore passage running from where the liquid was put in (left of my belly button) up through up into my armpit. And because of the way I have been sitting or something, my back has also started the ache, just below my bra strap on my left.

I assume that having the first lot of liquid put into the band aggravates the scare tissue?

I have eaten a little today. But I am starting to get in the habit of eating late a night, which isn’t good for me. I mean it’s not that bad because I wake up late… so when I eat late at night I am really eating ‘dinner’. Nut I should be mindfully eating 3 meals a day, not two and some snacking later.

Current Weight: 116 kgs
Goal Weight: 72 kgs
Only 44 kgs to go…