Protein

 

Weight this week: 13 13

Weight loss: 3lbs

Total weight loss: 2½ stones

Fat % loss: 1

Everywhere I look it's protein, protein and more protein. This is the advice from every avenue relating to bariatric surgery. They say eat your protein first, then if you can manage your fruit/veg/salad, then if you still have room your carbs. Now this makes sense if someone else is loading my plate, like out in a restaurant but because it's me, I was like just serve protein then?! I was going great guns until I felt I was just eating a plate of chicken or whatever. This didn't feel healthy at all. My plan has always been to cook and eat really good healthy food with the odd treat (yes, chocolate) thrown in to keep me happy. A little bit of balance. Jeez I got sick of protein! Now I'm having healthier foods. Fruit with my yogurt, salad with lunch and veg with dinner. Better! I also have protein isolate to mix with water so I'm drinking protein as well. 

Decided I should post new body pictures. My photo yesterday next to the one before surgery. I can't see a difference but my clothes are definitely slacker. My jeans are almost falling down! Whoop whoop. (I've just looked at the photos below when I added them, and you know, I think I can see a difference after all. That's exciting.)

I gave up looking for a G cup (not my bra size lol) to match my new plates so I just bought a non initialed one. Perfect for tea or coffee. Though obviously Mark hates it (stupid shape with a stupid handle, apparently). Hah! It was only £1.13 so he can go cry into his pillow. 

Yes it's time for a poem. I was out having coffee with friends and we talked about how short line is. And the words to this just came to me as I was driving home. And I do like to share! 

The woman on the Street

I passed a woman on the street

I noticed she began to weep

Excuse me miss why do you cry?

It is because I'm going to die

So sorry, would you like to sit?

I have some time, let's talk a bit

Is it cancer that has made you ill?

I do not ail, I'm healthy still

My death, my dear, it is not nigh

But life I feel has past me by

The reason why I shed these tears

Is realising I've wasted years

I thought I wasn't good enough

My married life was really tough

I should have left him from the start

Been brave and listened to my heart

I tolerated sadness and the pain

I let him hurt me again and again

But now he's gone and its too late

What time I have is down to fate

Child, listen hard to what I say

Persue your happy every day

You're good enough and this is true

Don't waste a moment feeling blue

My yesterday is full of sorrow

But there is joy in your tomorrow.

If you stress about something before it happens you're basically putting yourself through it twice! 

Cold water swim

Weight today: 14 2

Weight loss this week: 2lbs

Total weight loss: 2st 4

I must admit I thought my weight loss would be more impressive but I'm happy that I am losing. My meal sizes are slightly bigger and I'm having 3 now - breakfast, lunch, dinner and maybe one snack in the afternoon. Energy levels are increasing and I'm walking further. All good there.

I've been on hypertension meds for a few years now and my BP has always been a bit high, except last summer when I was walking home from work, if you remember? Well, after surgery at the clinic the nurse was concerned about my reading before being discharged. She gave me IV drugs then measured me again, still very high so put something under my tongue. I got home and saw the BP nurse who advised me to see my GP. GP told me to measure at home, twice, for 7 days. That week my BP just got lower and lower. It was such a shock that I worried something was wrong with me! Doctor was happy and every day since then I've had normal readings! I just can't get used to it. So many 'greens' on my spreadsheet whoop whoop! And I noticed my heart beat getting lower too. Just realised tonight that my fitbit has a graph for HB. And indeed it has been going down. Already, just 6 weeks after the op! It's great.

In Newcastle last weekend I went for a dip in the river Tyne with my sister and daughter. It was just amazing and I loved it. Gotta start doing it more! So many benefits. And you just feel so good afterwards, if a little muddy from the bank! 

I don't know if this is a Gilly-ism or whether I'm a lot crazy but early Thursday morning I had a dream. (Yes I am going to share an abridged synopsis). A couple got together after his brother died. They fell madly in love, very passionate and intense. He was on leave from the army and not in a good place. Her parents insisted she go to uni. At this point my daughter (who was watching this 'movie' with me) said we needed to wait 4 years to find out what happens. But like all good movies/dreams 4 years past in an instant. The boy came back and they were still madly in love. The boy wanted to go off into the sunset but the girl wasn't sure. (I must have realised I was dreaming because I remember really wanting them to stay together and figured I had the control to make it happen, as it was a dream). They got on the bus but she changed her mind and got off. And I just know that he left alone! (So apparently I can't control the endings of my own dreams). Anyway, I woke up absolutely sobbing! I knew I was being silly, they weren't real people, but I was completely bereft! I had to find my husband to tell him what happened, crying so hard all the way. Luckily he's quite used to me so wasn't very surprised. Anyway, it was just a dream! But oh my! Should I be worried? Nah, I'm just Gilly! 

Starting tomorrow, no matter what life throws at me, I'm ducking so that it hits someone else! 

Blue thread

 

Weight today: 14st 4lb

Loss: 1lb

Total loss 2st 2lb

So I discovered a blue thread sticking out of one of my key holes. I had a tiny tug of it but luckily I stopped myself - I had images of the thread unravelling and one of my legs dropping off. It's taking a lot of will power! 

Just a pound loss this week but I have now started on proper food. It was a surprise to me that the nutritionist OKed this, I thought it was soft foods for another couple of weeks, but I'm not complaining. The hardest thing is eating enough protein. I'm aiming for at least 60-80g a day but my meals are so small it's very hard. I need to get some whey isolate to make my water protein too. 

At least I'm a cheap date now. No drinks and just a starter, and that's me done! Mind I did tell Mark that this op would be expensive. When before I used to treat myself to a latte and brownie now it's a manicure or facial! And my grocery bill maybe smaller but I'm hoping in a few months I'll be shopping for new clothes. Whoop. 

I was getting ready the other morning and I popped in my contact lens, for my reading. But I couldn't see very well at all. I thought it might settle so I carried on my business but suddenly had a thought!? I couldn't actually remember taking my lens out the night before - was I now wearing two contact lenses in the same eye? Oh yes I certainly was! No wonder I couldn't see properly. What a narna I am. 

Stop being afraid of what might go wrong, and start being excited of what could go right.

I'm late, I'm late...

Weight today 14st 5lb

Loss this week 4lbs

Total loss 2st 1lbs (decided to ignore the ½lb)

I have a new statistic this week - before surgery the nurse measured by waist, 99.5cms, today it is 104cms. Well I wasn't expecting that!? No idea what to say. My belly was one place I thought I could see loss, but maybe not. Well 104 is a new starting point.

I do have a new plus to share though, I noticed a few days ago that I could sleep on my back without stopping breathing. What a relief. I mean, I don't particularly want to sleep on my back but it's nice to know I can, without suffocating!

I also have a new negative, I feel cold. It's mainly my hands and feet. This is so not like me at all. I'm using moaning about how hot I am. The other night I even took a hot water bottle to bed with me. In the middle of summer! I know the weather hasn't been great recently but still. No idea (again) but there you go. 

Because all my meals will be small I will be eating from small crockery. So I decided to treat myself to some nice side plates just for me, as my new dinner plate. Now I say treat myself lol, they are from Asda so hardly broke the bank, but I love them. And (for the third time) I've no idea why. Alice in Wonderland is not my thing, at all. But I really like them. What is happening to me? Everything is weird. They also do cups/mugs with initials on. They are the shape of tea cups and the size of mugs. I totally loved them but of course no sign of a G. It must be out of fashion. So annoyed. Even though Mark tells me that all the mugs in the house are mine and very 'girly' and he hates them! A bit strong don't you think? Tea tastes of tea no matter what the mugs looks like. Doesn't it? 🤔

No other news this week. I shall be increasing my menu repertoire next week. Very exciting. Thank you for reading, come back next Friday. Have a lovely week. 

The courage it takes to leave what is not for you is the same courage it takes to find what is.

I made a cake for my boys, even though I couldn't eat any. (I did lick my fingers though). And he still complained the mugs were too girly!