Onwards & Downwards: Valentines Day Edition

[AB Editor]

Good morning!

Sorry for the delay on this one. Naturally, I have been working on perfect valentines treats that are not only delicious, but postable and mysterious, and this has taken up all my time.

Anyone expecting to be over-indulged over the coming week? Or is it oysters on ryvita?

I've also been trying something called a "slow carb" diet, mainly as a way to avoid being hungry. It's quite good and can recommend building a few of the "beans and greens" rules into your own meal plans a couple of times a week. It's especially good for days after a bit of a treat, where you can be a little too hungry.

How are you getting on?

[Smowball]

What's helped me that last few weeks is doing a weekly meal planner. Just for evening meals. So I go thru my freezer/ cupboards to see what I have and what I need then go thru my cook books and fav recipes in my head then write down every evening meal for the week. So I know what I'm buying and what I can make healthier. This weeks had oven baked paella, salmon and new potatoes.....

[xstitcher]

Good morning all,
Sorry I forgot.... I'll do it tomorrow.

It was 10 POUNDS a week smowball. :-). One kilo is roughly 2 pounds., so pounds to kilos....multiply by 2 and kilo to pounds you divide but 2.

[xstitcher]

Gosh Islay that's quite a regime that you are on, and you are doing so well. It's good that you have your doctor to monitor you. I expect the tiredness comes from the trauma your body went through during the operation. Can you do any walking? I find that exercise is a great source of energy. Try and keep a journal of how long you can feel fine before the tiredness sets in. You may be surprised to see that you are gaining a bit more time by the month and this is very heartening for your recovery. Patience is the key word...good luck.

[Islay]

Yes I try and walk each day, however the tiredness comes on very quickly. I went out yesterday for 4 hours and I was so tired when I got in I slept for 3 hours and then went to bed and slept the night through!! Rest day today I think!

[Dazzleflash]

When you loose a huge amount of weight quickly what happens to all the spare skin? ( genuine question) Does it ping back or do you have to have an operation to get rid of it?

[Islay]

Depends on how much elastic is left in your skin and everyone is an individual. Some people in the group have lost 15 stone and have very little excess skin some have lost 6 stone and everything is excess. I may have to look at having it removed if it happens to me.

[Smowball]

No need to reply Islay but do you have an idea how much you want to lose or are you just going to see how it goes? X

[Islay]

Smow 13 stone. I am not ashamed of the op, I am not even ashamed about how big I have got. I am ashamed that the help is not available for the food addiction that I have. You know you can go without booze and you can go without ciggies but you can never go without food.

[Smowball]

You're absolutely right Islay. Totally agree with you x

[Dazzleflash]

Do you get counselling along with this operation? If its an addiction you can't stop it just by making your stomach smaller.

[Islay]

Dazzleflash, I have had counciling several times over the years, there is history here that I am not willing to go into on a public forum. No I did not get it with this operation as I went private, if you go through the NHS it is a very long process taking up to 3 years and they cover that for you.

[Dazzleflash]

That's fine Islay, although people on this public forum may be thinking about doing the same as you and questions asked/answered are totally anonymous aren't they, and may be very helpful to other people?
I wish you every success in your weight loss.

[Islay]

You think baring my life to a load of strangers and telling people what caused me to overeat would be usefull to others. No thank you to me that is asking for trouble and it does not take much to track people down when you post too much.

[wendilla]

Islay you just don't give your address out or where you are situated . I have been on here for 10 years and never had a problem . Don't give your e mail address unless you are absolutely certain . I have 3 friends I correspond with and all are genuine . I can say that I can see through people that are not genuine just seem to to be able to .

[Dazzleflash]

With respect Islay at no time have I asked you to 'bare it all' to a load of strangers about your perceived food addiction. I asked if counselling had been offered , following your operation,which you have now answered no. Personally I can't understand how losing 80% of your stomach will stop your addiction, just as if you were addicted to alcohol it would not help. The question was asked due to concern, not nosiness, and I apologize if you have taken it that way.

[xstitcher]

Let's try and concentrate on the positive things here. The op has been done, weight is being lost and I would suppose with a smaller stomach you would feel full with less food. I can only manage a 20 min walk at the moment but every day I try and take a few steps more and I can which is so great. My problem is due to a disease not I'm sure nobody is out to make you feel uncomfortable, and now you have said that you see no reason to bare you soul, so to speak, and that must be respected. I agree with you that it isn't necessary.

[xstitcher]

Good morning all, I stayed the same. I love my salads and have found a new dressing I make of just balsamic and lemon juice. It's very light and refreshing. I found it first with oysters but it also works well with a green salad. You're doing well Wendilla, good for you. I always think of you when I do my weekly menus.

[ChillDoubt]

My current regime of couscous, tuna, rice and mackerel as my staples (combined with roughly 40-50 miles per week on the pushiron) saw me at a healthy 17 st 4 lbs yesterday, almost 6 stone lost in 28 months.

[xstitcher]

Exercise, healthy diet and a good weight loss with no quick fix.....go to the top of the class Chill! You're in the loop now so there's no doubt that you'll be able to maintain that weight. You mentioned your food staples. There are lots more good healthy staples, but I expect that you have good control over that and build around your staples.
Please stay with us and let us know how it goes. May I ask what your motivation was for getting started? How many clothes sizes have you gone down?

[wendilla]

That is fantastic Chilldoubt keep up the good work . Thanks xstitcher yes that is my number one that I have always pointed out is to write down everything and plan your menus for the following week , It is so easy to make that call to the takeaways if you have run out of things .