Feeling pretty good!

I am doing pretty well, all things considering!

This wkend was my first proper outing, and the first day (Sat) went well... and I jived late into the night with Morten... and then Sun wasn't so good... nausea and the shakes... we got to British Museum, I had a little something to eat, took my meds, and didn't get better, so we came home. But what we managed to do was such fun :)

5 weeks out and my asthma has already improved, weight loss is good and steady (is unlike other wls procedures where they bypass your digestive system so you don't absorb any fats or sugars, so weight loss is HUGE and quick, my weight loss is steady and slower), I'm feeling better already. 2 top sizes down and 1 trouser size down.

We live on quite a hill and when I walk up it I am wheezing and out of breath, and take my pump when I get home... I haven't been taking it this past week... for me, this op has made such a huge difference already!!!

Lots I can eat, lots I cannot... depends from day to day with certain things... other things, like chicken, has to be very moist and shredded to be digested, even then I often cannot digest it and have to spit it out (sorry to be gross!).

I tried multigrain too early... my nutritionist said I must wait till the new year. It's all a learning curve for me, I am taking each day one at a time, listening to what my body needs.

It's shouting for beetroot and protein! I never used to have much protein, and for this wls surgery (and for asthmatics I have since found out!) protein should be key to one's diet... so this also explains why my asthma has improved so much already.

Usually , in this bitterly cold weather, my chest is continually tight and I am on steroids to help me breathe... and I am feeling light in chest and am not on the dreaded steroids :)

And it can only get better! :)

A-ha Farewell Tour

We went to A-ha's farewell Tour on last night... this was the last concert they'll ever play in the UK! :( They play a couple more times in Norway and then that's that... A-ha will disband. It's such a shame... they are SO talented!

Here are some images of the concert... Below I will pop some videos I took of the concert.

Farewell A-ha... thank you for the 25 years of music you provided. Your music WILL go on!

A room with a view... Wembley Stadium

This was the view from our hotel window. Wembley Stadium. I love how it changes personality as the light changes as night draws in.

A little bit of fun!

I have this new application on my new phone (iPhone 4 nogal! woohoo!)... it makes a coloured photo black and white, and then you can draw selected colour into it. Neat huh?

WLS stats

Salmon flakes, low fat cheese spread and pepper, on multigrain bread.

The nutitionist said I must stay off bread for a while longer still... my lil new tum probably cannot handle bread yet, and this might lead to a tear/leak.

I have had no pain when eating, and stop when full... so thought bread was okay (have had it twice), but if the nutritionist says it's early days for me and bread... then out goes the bread!

Crackers are fine. I love these low fat Jacob's crackers, with fillings on top.. they literally melt in my mouth. Just what's needed!

Sea basa fillet of fish with lemongrass and chili sauce... with rice.

I am being very careful with rice... just little bits at a time... hard to digest!

Below is fish pie, with side salad.

Two tablespoons of fish pie practically fills me up.. I then eat the salad as I am able. Focussing on proteing first.

5 weeks post surgery: 9.5 kgs weight loss.

Total weight loss (including pre op weight loss): 16.5kgs

I haven't lost weight hardly at all (as far as the scale is concerned!) in the last couple of weeks, but have been following my regime as much as before. I am losing inches though... my body feels so different.

I am down 2 t-shirt sizes and 1 trouser size... so it's all good... just wish the scales were being more generous.

I chatted to the nutritionist about this and she said I am doing very well and must just continue as I am... as long as I see change in my body shape, and clothing wearability, then I AM losing weight... and the scales will probably dip loads soon, to show this on there too.

Marrow Mmm...

Baby marrow (courgette), tomato, butternut, carrot, cucumber, onion, basmati rice (white), basmati rice (brown), chicken, red pepper.

I made this from previous 2 night's leftovers... and Lance loved it! I picked on this and that.

Such generous friends

Friends of ours are emigrating to South Africa next week and they've been clearing things out and they said they thought hard before giving things away... to the right person. Most of their stuff (apart from what's on a ship to SA as we speak!) has gone to charity.

He is a photographer and gave us a lovely tripod... woohoo!

He also gave me an .... ENLARGER!!!! I loved b&w photography at uni in the dark room and he knows this from a conversation we once had... and I am now the proud owner of an enlarger... with red light, trays, chemicals, the works (although will get fresh chemicals!).

They have a baby and she gave me a couple of baby furniture items that she knows I do not have yet (I have just taken on a 6 month old)... she knows exactly what I have as I've looked after her now 3 yr old for 2.5 yrs.

Very thoughtful in their giving to their friends.

And those items will not gather dust!

Time for lunch!

Onion and chives cottage cheese, salmon, cucumber and cherry tomatoes, on a slice of multigrain bread.

Cravings

Since I have been back on soft solids, I have been craving seafood, fish and beetroot. I've had fish (cod and bass fillet) twice, seafood (prawns) three times, and a slice of beetroot every day, this week.

What food cravings have you had lately? Do they change?

Meals today

For breakfast I had an egg. Till now I've only managed half an egg. Then I had a coffee flavoured slimfast shake for lunch.

I was a little naughty and had a couple pieces of VERY moist biltong... Mmmm... protein!

Tonight I had Cod & Prawn Ocean Pie, 2.5 tablespoons worth. First time I've had mash since the op... and I ate it slowly and didn't quite get to finish it all.