3 years in!

Three years out, and my weight is around 76kg. It's still higher than I would like, but unfortunately I suffered a bad back injury two months ago and the lack of exercise and everyday movement has made me balloon pretty badly. I'm working on getting better, but thought I'd post my three year pics

Rock climbing - one of the things on my pre-sleeve to-do list!

Photo update

I'm currently sitting around 74kg, which is a tiny bit higher than I would like, so I am focusing on eating healthily and getting lots of incident exercise throughout the day. I am having some injections in my back soon so that hopefully I can start running again pain-free!

Some photos to show where I am now!

At the Wildcats Ball this past weekend

Shopping in Paris at Christmas time

At my nieces birthday party getting my bouncy castle on!

2 year update

Life with the sleeve is so normal, I don't even think about it most weeks. I rarely get any side effects, and while I have a lot of restriction still, I am still able to enjoy food and go out for meals if I want to.
I am sitting around 73kg which seems to be my comfortable weight. While I loved how I looked at 70kg, I basically have to exercise most days to achieve that, which isn't realistic with my lifestyle.

Time for some pictures!

At a recent wedding

With my sister in law at a wedding

At a new #parkrun that just started up

In some daggy clothes to play with the dogs - they are having pupcakes!

At my uni graduation - I can even make a black sack look okay!

I love how I look, I feel healthy, and I am really happy with the decision I made.

Photo from the weekend

Me at a friends wedding this past weekend. Wearing a Ginger and Smart dress, size 14.

 

Running up a storm

My weight likes to fluctuate between a range of 69 and 71.5, depending on what I have eaten and how much exercise I have done. I'm not weighing myself very often as I can gauge how I am doing my energy levels rather than a number on the scale.

I realised that I haven't documented my measurements since the end of January so grabbed the measuring tape out to see if I had lost any centimetres in the last two months. I've lost an extra 1cm on both my waist and hips which is progress - at least it's in the right direction. I think my measurements are a little hard to do now thanks to all the excess skin I have. 

I have also brought my 5km running time down by a minute to 32:25 which I am very happy with. Only two weeks now until the fun run in Bunbury. I ran 10km non-stop last weekend so at least I know that I can do it! I am aiming to do the 10k run in under 80 minutes. 

Taking Charlie for a run

Hubby, me, and our two dog-children

Running this morning - Personal Best time!

Reviewing my pre-surgery goals

At the beginning of this process, I wrote a post titled 'Things I want to do when I lose weight'. 

I wanted to revisit this list and see how I had progressed.

Parasailing – Weight limits have always kept me away from this, it looks like amazing fun

Nope - haven't gotten that far yet - but only because I can't find anywhere in Perth that does it!

Go rock climbing – similar reasons to parasailing, I think it would be so much fun yet my weight has held me back

Not yet but this is a great reminder - I will have to book in and give this a go! There are a couple of indoor rock climbing places in Perth and I think it would be great fun and an awesome workout as well! Consider my butt kicked and I will try and get to this in the coming month.

Take some dance classes – I love dancing but as I’ve put on more and more weight, I don’t do it anymore because I feel like a fat whale flopping about. I love hiphop dancing, but flamenco sounds pretty awesome as well.

I haven't taken up any dance classes yet, simply because I haven't had the time to do it. This is something that I might give a chance later in the year once I have finished uni classes.

Finish the couch to 5k program – I always start the C2K program but by week 3 my feet and body are so sore that I just give in and head back to the couch with an ‘it’s all too hard’ attitude. I want to be able to run 5km’s and be able to do it on a regular basis.

I now run regularly at least once a week, but sometimes more often. 5k is my regular distance and I actually enjoy the process of going running! This is probably my biggest transformation.

Shop at normal clothing stores – I love the look of clothes in Portmans, Cue, Sportgirl, Tokito but I’ve never been able to wear them. I’ve been a size 18 for most of my adult life, and recently expanded to a 20/22/24 pant size, which as you can imagine is very limiting to the clothes I can buy. I’d love to be able to walk into one of these stores and be able to try on a dress knowing that there will be something there that fits.

 Yep - I do this now! I love walking into every store and perusing through the beautiful clothes. I love that I can buy what I want now, rather than whatever is available that fits

Wear a bikini – Do you know I have never worn a bikini? Not as a child or teenager or young adult. I’m 26 and I’ve been ashamed of my body for most of my life. I know my body isn’t going to be perfect after this operation, and I know that my self-image isn’t going to miraculously fix itself, but I want to be proud of myself, and one day where a bikini. Not necessarily in public, at the beach or pool, but at least around friends or family in a backyard pool. 

I bought my first bikini! Sure, I haven't worn it out in public, but even trying it on was a huge achievement for me. 

Breaking the 70 mark

As of Saturday, I am down to 69.5kg. It's a pretty big achievement for me to finally be in the 60's. I'm not sure if I will stay there or not, my body is pretty fickle when it comes to what it wants to do, but right now I'm pleased as punch.

This past month, my husband and I have made an effort to make lunch to take to work, and cooking healthy dinners each night. Murray has been using MyFitnessPal to track his food intake which has helped him with accountability on what he is eating. On top of that, I bought him a FitBit One to help him stay focused on how much he is moving. This has made a huge difference to his mindset. He wont go to bed unless he has reached his 10,000 steps each day. If he has a bit to go, he will take the dogs out for a long walk before bed, and he makes smart decisions around parking further away from where he needs to go so that he can walk part of the way.

All of this put together has lead to him losing 8.1 kilos in the month of February! That's an incredible result for four weeks of effort. There was no missing out on food or having a heavily restricted diet. He stick to 2000 calories, and 10,000 steps a day, and if he exercised extra, he could eat back those calories if he wanted to.

We made all sorts of things for dinner: Spaghetti Bolognaise with extra zucchini and carrot, San Choy Bao, Mountain bread rolls with spinach, chicken, feta and salad, and I have learnt how to make the most amazing beetroot chorizo and spinach salad ever! Really easy food but so delicious and much healthier than hubby's go-to takeaway foods.

This first month I did all the cooking of lunch and dinners to be supportive, but it has wiped me out a bit. To help me out a bit, we are going to be getting a cleaner in once a fortnight to help me spend less time cleaning and more time doing cooking which I enjoy. Murray is also going to step up and do more of the cooking, now that he knows what healthy options are available, and how easy they are to prepare.

Progress

All the running I've been doing appears to be paying off! As of this morning, I am down to 70.5kg - so close to being in the 60's!

My latest measurements as of 25.01.14

Bust - 97.5cm
Waist - 98cm
Hips - 102cm
Thigh - 55.5cm

Looking back

I spent a little while this past weekend looking through some old photos of myself, and then my photos from just before the surgery, and I couldn't help but to cry.

This was my 'before' photo. The photo that I took in anticipation of all the progress ahead, the promise of things to come. At the time I knew it was bad, but it is only now that I am looking back, that I see clearly how big I was.

Part of me never wants to show this photo, and of course it's the internet, it could go anywhere. But I am sharing it because someone might be out there and is struggling with making this decision. It is one of the hardest things I have done. But by far, it has also been the best thing that i have done for myself.

This was me 28/08/12

I didn't know I was that big.

Now I look like this.

19/02/14

I'm not a supermodel. I'm not skinny. But I am healthy, fit and strong. I like buying and wearing clothes. I am happy. I thank God that I was able to have the surgery and live the life that I now lead.

January 2014

I'm currently sitting at 71.5kg, so my weight has definitely stabilised at this point, and I'm really happy with where I am. I am generally a size 14, with my first size 12 tops bought from Portmans just before Christmas - a very exciting moment!

My husband and I have been talking and I am going to do some research on tummy tucks and breast lifts. I am happy with what I have been able to achieve, but I do have some excess skin which I would love to get rid of. I'm not too concerned right now about it, but something to think about for the future.

In other news, I am currently training for a 10km race in April! Me, the girl who couldn't run to the end of her street, is going to run in a 10km race! Madness I tell you! I am running several times a week, and my PB for my regular 5k run is 33:35, which is a huge improvement on my starting time of 40 minutes last June. Seriously, if I can do this, ANYONE can do it!

Running

More running

One of my size 12 tops

My birthday gift from my husband - these beautiful Isola bathers!

The bathers from the back (also my tattoo all healed up)

Relaxing at Christmas in Indonesia

Lovely weather meant lots of shorts and singlets

Enjoying dinner outdoors in a little summer dress

Singapore Zoo - going casual

November Update

Just a quick one this month. Current weight is 72.0kg and measurements all still the same as last month, yet my body is changing shape. I bought two size 12 tops from Portmans last week, and a pair of size 14 jeans on ebay had to be passed on as they were too big. I'm beginning to feel really comfortable in my body, and am even looking forward to wearing bathers this summer!

Some photos from the month.

This is the dress I wore on my first date with my husband ten years ago - and now it is too big! 

Heading to our 8th wedding anniversary dinner and then to see Beyonce in concert

Color Run Perth

After my run this morning - cracked a PB 33:35 for 5km

Another thing that I have done that I would never have the confidence to do before is to get a tattoo! I have a small white ink tattoo on my wrist that I had done 18 months ago, but this is a really big piece on my back - and it hurt!!! But it was worth it.

Getting inked at Holdfast Studio in Victora Park

The final product

October Update

So my plans for a 6 week challenge to myself went haywire the very first week thanks to a cold/flu bug that knocked me for six! Luckily I am feeling much better now, but I definitely didn't keep up with my exercise plan that I had prepared. I did monitor my eating though which I feel made a big difference in how I managed the last month.

My current weight is 72.6kg, and I have definitely noticed a change in my body shape in the past month or so. I even bought myself size 14 skinny jeans - a first in my adult life! They are even a bit loose which I love!

My current measurements:
Bust - 99cm
Waist - 98cm
Hips - 104cm
So close to all of them being under 100cm!!!


Some more recent photos

Before the Fabolous & Omarion concert

My Dad & I at Oma's 90th birthday

Mum & I

Running with Charlie at #parkrun - My main source of exercise on weekends!

6 week program

I have set myself a mini goal for the next six weeks to try and get myself into some good habits. The program basically sets out days where I will exercise (4 days a week), and sticking to under 1200 calories a day (which is pretty easy, except that they are often laden with fat!). It's only 6 weeks, but I'm hoping it will kickstart my weight loss and get me down to a size 14 where I feel that I will be a little more comfortable in my body. So here goes!

Starting stats
Bust - 100cm
Waist - 103cm
Hips - 108cm
Weight - 75kg

How much weight is too much? -aka- When is it acceptable to be who you are?

My weight loss has nearly come to a standstill, but I'm okay with that for now. I've been flat out with work and other commitments so my exercise hasn't been all that flash. If I'm honest, my eating hasn't been all that great either. I still can only eat smaller amounts, much less than a full serve, but occasionally I can sneak in a little extra, and I know my food choices aren't always the best.

I had my 12 month blood tests done today and cholesterol has gone up slightly since my last testing 6 months ago. Admittedly 6 months ago I was barely eating anything so I knew it had to go up. Part of it going up has been the good cholesterol going up though which is a good thing - mine has always been low. And my overall risk factor has decreased as a result of that. My B12 levels are still low but nothing new there.

I do need to be careful with my Coke intake. I drink probably a can maybe three times a week, but if I ever drink more than a can at a time, even just an extra half a can, I can feel my heart racing and my hands get shaky - definitely a sign that it is too much for my body to handle! I also still get headspins every time I stand up, a symptom of my low blood pressure.

Other than that, I'm still going strong and incredibly happy that I had the surgery done. Now comes the hard part - learning to live outside of the sleeve's immediate effects and learning to love my body. I am sitting at 75kg, and it seems to be a pretty good weight for me to be at. My BMI is just over 25, I run regularly and I sit between a size 14 and 16. Should I be trying to lose more weight? What is the right weight to be? Is it okay to be a size 16 and accept that? Or should I keep going until I am a size 14, or size 12, or size 10? It's all so confusing to me. I'm not skinny- will society look down on me if I stop trying to get there and just be happy with who I am at this point? Will people who don't know my sleeve history think I am being lazy by being this weight, even though it is considered 'healthy' by my doctor and BMI? There is still so much to get right in my head, to navigate how 'normal' people manage their body image and the worlds perception of what is 'okay'.

Latest Measurements & a photo to boot!

Since my last post, I reached my goal weight of 75, and then have stayed the last week back at around the 75.5-76kg mark. I'm not too concerned, I know that I've hit it once and no doubt I will be back there in the coming weeks.

I did my measurements on the weekend, and slowly but steadily there is more improvement. My next goal is to get all of my bust/waist/hips measurements under the magic 100cm mark!

Area - 30/8/12 - 9/2/13 - 18/08/13  -  Total cm lost

Neck  -   43cm  -  38cm  -  34cm         9cm lost
Chest  -  133cm  -  113cm  -  101cm          32cm lost
Waist (bellybutton)  -  135cm  -  116cm  -  102.5cm         32.5cm lost
Hips  -   143cm  -  121cm  -  106.5cm          36.5cm lost
Bicep  -  36cm  -  32cm  -  27.5cm          8.5cm lost
Thigh  -  79cm  -  65cm  -   59cm         20cm lost
Calf  -   46cm  -  39cm  - 36cm         10cm lost

Which equals a grand total of 101cm lost off of my bust/waist/hips, and a grand total of 148.5cm lost from my body. Just astonishing!

Here's a comparison photo...

May 2012 getting ready for the Perth Wildcats Ball

At Trotters and Trifecta's a week ago

Check in and a major milestone reached

Sorry for the radio silence recently. I have been flat out between work and an awesome holiday in the eastern states.

I achieved 50 kilograms lost as of my birthday on July 21st! That was a lovely present and something that I had been waiting and hoping for. Since then, I have lost another kilo, and am currently weighing 75.3kg, only .3 of a kilo away from my dream goal weight that I set at the beginning of this whole process.

I am still doing well, with a lot of restriction most days, but occasionally being able to eat larger amounts, depending on how I'm feeling and what the food is. Certainly nothing in comparison to what I used to eat, that's for sure! My only real complication is my low blood pressure which causes me head spins whenever I stand up, but I can cope with that. I'm due for all my bloods and have an appointment at the Bariatric Clinic in early September for my 12 month check up, so I'm sure they will look into that then.

So time for some photos!

At the MCG watching the Collingwood v Adelaide AFL game

Enjoying Murray's company on holiday

The theatre

I saw snow for the first time! Here I am wearing a giant ski jacket and pants, along with about 4 other layers underneath!

Progress photos, from before surgery, and at approx 2 month intervals since -Front on

Progress photos, from before surgery, and at approx 2 month intervals since - Side on

Heading out for drinks

I've recently started running and I've discovered Lululemon! Completely addicted now!

Update

Just a quick one for today as I am meant to be studying! Things are going great, to be honest there isn't a whole lot to talk about. I think I will leave this blog and only pop by when I have new photos or something big is happening related to my weight loss.

My body measurements are pretty much the same, but as of this morning I weight 77.5kg! Only 2.5kg away from my dream weight! I had another first today as well - I ran at ParkRun and managed to do the 5km run in 39:23, which I was dead impressed with. I was aiming for under 50 minutes, and I managed to the whole run with only about 3-4 minutes of walking when I was exhausted half way through.

And now for the photos - I am wearing all size 16 clothing and really loving the short blonde hair!

After dinner on Friday night

From a photography session with the gorgeous Fee

Under 80

Another milestone reached - I am under 80kg! I hit 79.9kg on Saturday night, but wanted to be a little further under before I made it official, and today I am 79.7kg, so I think that will do it!

My measurements are down again since measuring in April - Chest is 103cm, Waist is 105cm and Hips at 110cm. My neck measurement is now 35cm!

Not much else to add except that I am off to State Youth Games this weekend which is basically three days of non-stop sport, which will certainly burn a few calories and get my body moving!

Heading to my Mum's birthday party on Saturday night 25/05/13

Stable weight

I've been quite slack on the exercise front for the last couple of weeks since the Relay for Life. It just got so cold all of a sudden! Not surprisingly, my weight loss has stalled at the same time. I'm not too concerned about it, but I do need to start getting back into a routine, even if it is just once a week hitting the gym.

The biggest thing I have found recently is how cold I am! I guess when you lose 45kg and you don't have the padding of your body weight, you feel the outside temperature a lot more, but I really didn't expect to feel frozen all day every day. I have invested in lots of scarves, jackets and gloves to get me through the train trip and sitting in my freezing office all day, and have already had the heater on at night at home. I even bought my first electric blanket for my bed to help cope with the temperature change a little better! Not sure what I'm going to do when the cold weather really hits - it's hard to believe it's still only Autumn, Winter hasn't even arrived yet!

I've had a couple of meals that haven't sat right with me over the past few weeks, mainly because I have eaten too fast which continues to be my downfall. I am definitely learning more and more about what capacity I have and being able to gauge how much food is enough. There is a very small margin of error between feeling like I've almost had enough, to -OMG that was too much and I need to vomit.

Current weight as of today is 81.6kg with jeans and a jumper on (I'm not stripping off in this cold for my usual underwear weight!). So that is probably around the 81kg mark, which is slow, steady and reasonable. Love my sleeve!

Progress Photos

Today's weigh in - 82.2kg, so I've stayed pretty steady over the last week or so. Also my body fat percentage is finally under 40%, cracking 39.9% on my scales today! I know it has only been 6 weeks since my comparison photos, and there isn't a whole lot of difference, but I thought I'd be proactive and get them up now at the beginning of the month.

Sep/Dec/Feb/Mar/May

Sep/Dec/Feb/Mar/May

Also some other not very glamorous photos of me from the past week

My style - ASOS tunic, funky Dorothy Perkins leggings, cheapo boots and a Sussans belt to cinch it in

David Lawrence dress and Portmans denim jacket. with opaque tights. The denim jacket was just for the ride home as it was starting to get a bit nippy

This one is a big deal for me to post - new bathers. I can point out all the things I hate about this picture, but I'm being brave and posting it. Bathers are by Seafolly, a steal at $20 including postage new from Seafolly's ebay store. And to make it even sweeter, they are a size 16!