Christmas 2014 Vs Christmas 2015

I did the Elf photoshoot on Christmas Eve

as I did last year.....

The difference a year can make still blows my mind.

After all the ups and downs on my weight loss journey, that the final thing that worked was so relatively easy compared to the hours and hours I have slugged out at the gym, working out and weighing food, counting calories....

If any of you have ever had issues with your weight, than this is the solution you are looking for!

But I will add a few important pointers for you to assist in your success....

Christmas Eve 2014

Christmas Eve 2015

And here is a better look at my body...

 This photo was taken in November, and I have reduced sizes and kilos since.

My Secret:  Weight Loss Surgery - Sleeve.

Current Weight: 72.8

Goal Weight: 72 (not far to go now!)

Current Size: 10 (OMFG!!)

A few pointers that have helped with the success:

1. I tackled the mental weight issues that I had. These have been with me my whole adult life and were quiet restricting and had a huge impact on my weight and mental stability.

I used my weight as camouflage, so people couldn't see the real me.

(I dont know what I thought was wrong with the real me, but I have a feeling it does stem right back to my early childhood)

This was an extremely important step and the results were so dramatic I cant even tell you!  I lost 8 kilos after this session alone. I was able to see the "real" me hiding and was able to pull her to the front of my consciousnesses and be happy with her being there.

These sessions were "Self Awareness" sessions and invaluable!!!

2. I did lots and lots of research and culminated a plan based on the most common mistakes made by people!

It seemed to me from the research that I did that alot of people blamed the sleeve when they weren't losing weight saying it was too big. And then I would read what these people were eating.  I did everything by the book to not stretch my new stomach. I want to keep it tiny, because the less food it can fit in, the better for my weight!  So I followed the meal plans, and the water intake by the book. Any sign of discomfort and I stopped eating/drinking!  And I still do now. I consume a very very small amount of food still. People are shocked when they see the size of my meal, but this is what I have to (not)eat in order for me to stay this size.  I have a food addiction and this wont go away, like any addiction, I will have it for the rest of my life and I have to treat this addiction like any other addiction. But the difference is we need food for survival. So I only eat enough to calm the hunger and then Im done.

3. I have rewarded changes in size.  This is a very important but self indulgent tool  As I have gotten smaller, I have bought lovely clothes as a reward. I might only fit into them for a month or two, but I have done this! And I have sold off the sizes as they get too big. Selling off the clothes helps fund my new clothes to some extent. But Im not buying target clothes or best and less. No, I am rewarding myself with all those lovely brands I was always too fat to wear!!! And I LOVE this!!! I am down to a size 10, my shoulders are creeping to an 8. My hips are a 10-12.  I can never recall being this small ever in my entire life!!!

4. Dont kid yourself.  Honesty with yourself is so important. How many times did we hear ourselves saying, This pavlova has fruit,. its good for me and I will eat several pieces.  Or its just a lolly I can burn that off in no time!  If you want to eat crap, own it!!  Yes I am going to eat this crap and I know I will pay for it one way or another and own it! If we own our decisions, than we make them accepting the consequences.

Ive not exercised through this whole process.  I have always maintained that my job is very active. I shouldn't have to slog it out in the gym everyday after doing what I do for work everyday!! And now my body is processing food normally, I can see that is true.  I am losing weight and I dont have to burn that extra 800 calories in he gym.

THE BIGGEST HINT OF ALL

If you dont eat it, you dont have to burn it!!!

The only reason we have to work our arses off at the gym is because we are eating too much in the first place!

The   diet plans say to eat a certain amount of calories, and then burn so many of those calories off each day!!  How about not eating those calories we have to burn off in the first place!!! I think this is good advise for anyone! If you are an active person day to day, you shouldn't have to bust your arse in the gym and cause yourself injuries.  Just dont eat those calories in the first place!

Its been a while since my last post

and I dont have any full length photos to show you.

Im getting a bit slack now hey!

But I am still losing weight and also cms.

Here are the latest:

Weight: 80.6

Bust: 94

Waist: 79

Hips: 102

Thigh: 46

Bicep: 33

Neck: 30

I cant believe the change in mindset that losing waist has caused this time.

I,ve lost this amount of weight before, in fact this isn't my smallest yet,

but the mindset this time has done a 180.

Its like I woke up one day and realized that my being obese was a nightmare

and I am now the real me.

I used to prey for this to happen all the time.

I remember doing it as far back as primary school.

Please god, when I wake up tomorrow, please let me be thin!

This was a nightly prayer for as long as I can remember!

And now I finally am on my way to that!
And it wasn't from any god!!! But Dr Nolan!

I look around me now and see things from a thin persons perspective!
I've never done this before.... even when I lost weight before.

I still saw myself as a fat person.

I am so happy with this life!
I am excited and I do exciting things all the time!

I am no longer living the life of a fat person, but an active person

doing so many different things and living life!

I love life!

This is me competing in the Drag Competition a few weekends ago!
I would have never done this fat!
Not there there aren't like heaps (The majority) of female drivers doing this that are overweight.

But I just felt more confident in myself!
it was awesome fun!

3 1/2 Months Post Op

Its now 3 1/2 months  Post Op.

Weight Loss has slowed down, but I am still losing Cms.

And I think things must be re positioning because my shape keeps changing too.

Who knows, all I know is that its ALL GOOD!

Here was me last week.

I am wearing Q Baby Wrangler Jeans.

I have never been able to wear brand name Jeans.

Even when I was much younger.

I could never get them to fit my thighs!

So to be wearing Wrangler Jeans is amazing to me!! Yay!

Notice too the Ear Warmers

These have a double purpose.

1. Too keep thy ears warms

2. To cover the dreadful hair breakage flyaways!

Ive always loved my hair and I always like to keep it nice.

But I am losing like heaps and heaps of hair now.

I only brush it once a week to try and save on hair loss because when I brush it, 

the brush is FULL of hair!

Im hoping at this stage that I dont have to have it cut,

but I wont be devastated if I do.

Its only hair and it will grow back

Nothing is better than how I am feeling with this weight loss,

if it means short hair for a while than Meh...

no biggy

Atu & Mum will have the issues with it, not me!

Here is my photos to date....

I still cant believe this is actually me!!

To celebrate getting under the 90 kilo mark

I decided to do a paraglide.

I have wanted to do this twice before but due to my weight didnt get the chance.

Yesterday it wasnt even a issue!

No talk of being too heavy!

Infact, they had to take the harness in for me after the previous woman wore it!

That was more thrilling than the ride!!! haha

Here are some photos!

A close up of my hair.

I dont look too much like a sick person do i??

Nearly forgot my weight and measurements:

Weight: 88.6

Bust: 102

Waist: 84

Hips: 113 (Maybe Hormonal)

Thigh: 56.5

Calf: 39.5

Arm: 36

Neck: 33

3 Months Down...... 26.8 kilos Gone!....

17th May celebrates my 3 months mark since surgery.

I feel fantastic!

Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and I like what I see now.

Im not revolted by the look of myself.

Its not really until to like the look of yourself that you realise

how much I hated myself before.

I am happy!!!

There is still more to loose, but I am on the downhill side of things now.

My Doctor said try to get to 80 kilos in 6 months

My Dietitian said I should get to 72...

I however, dont really care!
I have no goal in mind. I feel pretty awesome now

and until I start to look wrinkly and horrible I will keep losing.

Here are the progress photos...

Right now I am 90 Kilos

Neck: 34

Bust 103

Waist: 85

Bicep: 35

Hips: 110

Thigh: 57

Body Fat 51%

BMI: 33.4

More Updates and going well.

Its funny

You go along day by day 

and you really dont feel like anything much has changed

and then you take a random photo....

And then do the comparison

And its easy to see whats going on!

Its been 20 days since my last photo,

I was 97.8 then

and today I am 93.6

My daughter pointed out that even my hands have gotten smaller.

This is the best decision I have ever made for myself!

I have had the all clear that I can eat what I want now.

And on the weekend I enjoyed a Chicken, Lettice and Mayo Sandwich!

It was so nice!

The difference is though, that the Sandwich was my lunch

My afternoon tea and my evening meal!

I had it in 3 small sessions and cut the crusts off.

Im a cheap date now!!

7 Weeks Post Op

I thought I would take a comparison photo today.

Although I am still in my baggy comfy clothes but that's just me,

So this is the BEFORE PHOTO

and then TODAY,S PHOTO - 7 weeks out.

BEFORE MEASUREMENTS: 

Weight: 116.8

Bust: 120

Waist: 103

Hips: 137

Right Thigh: 60

Neck: 35

Right Bicep: 42

AFTER MEASUREMENTS:

Weight: 97.8

Neck: 34

Bust: 107 (14cm Down)

Wasit: 90 (13cm Down)

Hips: 120 (17cm Down)

Thigh: 64 (I have obviously measured a different spot!)

Calf: 37

Bicep: 37 (5 cm down)

Forearm: 23

So 7 weeks Post Op, gotta be pretty happy with that!
Cant wait to see where the next 7 weeks takes me!

Its really real.....

I started this blog back in 2009

as a way to share my motivation to loose weight.

There is documented evidence of each and every

try and fail in this endevour!

In 2012 I noticed alot of success with Weight Loss Surgery!
So diligently signed up to a Private Heath Fund - HCF

and spent the next 12 months saving the out of pocket costs 

for this operation!

Unfortunately at the time I decided to give it one last shot with 

weight Loss the old fashioned way!

Through Diet & Exercise.

I joined Michelle Bridges.

Very limited success and lots of long term body damage!

I still carry the injury to my knee!

This woman really has no clue about bodies of the obese!

In December 2014

I had a job to do with my work.

Because of my weight it was very difficult

and so decided its time to bite that bullet and get this weight off

for good!!!

I rang around a few Doctors and found one I really liked

that could fit into my limited schedule

and the staff were wonderful!

I rang my health fund - HCF only to be told

No Sorry, we dont cover WLS under the top cover anymore

you need extra cover!

We sent you a letter!

OMG after 3 years I was so cranky!!!

Then the receptionist from the Doctors Surgery rang

and said another woman had the same problem

but she swapped over to Medibank Private for instant cover.

So I did that and that was as easy as a phone call.

HCF did their level best to slow things down,

but I stayed ontop on them and got the paper work finalised!

My Doctors Appointment was January 25th

and I was scheduled for surgery on February 17th!

These are some before photos and measurements.

This was me Late December

Weight: 116.8

Bust: 120

Waist: 103

Hips: 137

Right Thigh: 60

Neck: 35

Right Bicep: 42

*****

On 1st February I started my Pre-Op Diet.

Optifast, plus limited veges.

February 2nd

Weight: 114

Bust: 118

Wasit: 102

Hips: 132

Right Thigh: 64

Right Bicep: 40

Neck: 33

February 6th

I also have to have a throat thing done before my op in Tamworth

I did a weight measurement beforehand

Weight: 112.6

Bust: 114

Wasit: 99

Hips: 130

Right Thigh: 60

Right Bicep: 40

Neck: 33

During this period I lost 8 kilos!

The first 3 days were very difficult, but after that it was no biggy!

And the weight just fell off!

*****

This was me the Friday before my op.

Weight: 108.4

My Operation was 17th February 2015

By Doctor Gregory Nolan 

in Southport

I needed a fast recovery as I had to get back to work in 10 days!!!

I went in to have the operation

and I was so scared!

I was wheeled into the waiting area and met my anesthetist, who was quiet lovely!

Very reassuring!

Doctor Nolan was running a little late, so we were all just hanging around waiting for him.

When he arrived, we chatted some.

Dr Nolan asked how big a stomach I wanted.

My reply was one that works!
He said Good Answer!

I went in after a little after 8.ooam

I was actually wheeled into the Operating Room

with the massive lights overhead

I was told the "Shimmy" onto the operating table!
I said to the Doctor, "Have you not seen me, I haven't shimmied anywhere in a very long time!"

He laughed!

But I managed to get on the table!

The massive lights were quiet scary! I remember commenting on them!

The anesthetist gave me an injection in my hand

he said let me know when you are feeling sleepy.

I said to him that the walls were moving!

I think he took that as I am feeling sleepy!!

The assistant put the scanner thing on my head to make sure I stayed asleep!

The next thing I remember is waking up in my room and I was so sore!

My chest hurt so bad!

I cried and cried!

The nurse told me that I was so naughty!
She tried to inject me with morphine and I made such a fuss that I had a massive bruise on my thigh!

The next time I woke up I was still so sore!

Stu was there and I waved to him and tried to behave myself!

I was so so thirsty!

I asked for water but they couldn't give me any!

I begged for ice but couldn't have that either!

I slept on and off for a few hours.

Later that day they removed the vibrating things so I could go to the loo.

I was mindful that I had to have a fast recovery

so I asked them that while Im up can I go for a walk!

This surprised the nurses after this mornings performance

so did a lap of the hall.

And that was my hospital experience

Sleep, wee and walk!

I did this for 3 days and then I went home to recooperate on the gorgeous

Gold Coast!

I slept and slept!

It was so refreshing!

In my jarmies, sitting on the balcony drinking my shakes

Liquid diet for a week!

Then I decided to get dressed,

This was the second last day!

I didn't really record much weight loss during this time!

Mega bloating still

and letting my stomach heal.

I was back in Gunnedah and at work to do a function by 27th February.

Life has mostly had its ups.

Im still on a combination of liquids and puree diet.I was supposed to move onto soft food

but I am still having pain swallowing.

I think its due to the hernia repair,

March 13th I was 102.8

Bust: 110

Waist: 96

Hips: 127

Thigh: (Wrong reading)

Bicep: 39

Neck: 33

Here are some photos from that week.

*****

Right now I am under the "jump" weight!

My first goal was to get under 100 kgs.

I have to be under 100 to be able to parachute!

I am 99.8 Yay!!

Ive not been 99.8 in a very long time!

Its been 4 weeks since the operation, and 6 weeks since the prediet!

Im really really happy with my progress!