Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Interesting, very interesting....or not.

Just then, whilst checking what cycling kit actually fits me now.... I have a large bag of stuff which I brought when discounted/in sales: darn you Wiggle!!!.... which has never fitted. Of course I hung onto it on the hope that one day I would be able to squeeze into it. That day has finally arrived as all but one pair of cycling tights and a jacket now fit! So, I now have a choice of what to wear and drivers have a choice what they can ignore me in and still pull out on me like twats.

Anyway...there it is again...while cleaning out my draws, I came across a booklet which I thought I had thrown away: the booklet with all my measurements in from when I started all this! So, to ensure that I don't lose the recorded facts, I am going to stick them all in here.....bet you can hardly wait!

So, on the 24th Sept, the day I started my pre-op diet. I measured the following:

Weight: 127.7kg

Chest    145cm

Waist    135 cm

Hips:     120 cm

Neck     56cm

The next measures recorded are on Operation Day: 8th Oct. On this day, my measurements were:

Weight: 121.4kg, a loss of 6.3kg since I started 14 days earlier.

Chest:     140cm, down 5cm

Waist:     133cm  down 2cm

Hips:      119cm   down 1cm

Neck        54.5cm   down 1.5cm

So, overall I lose 9.5cm during that period!

On to the next measurements I have been able to find....there might be more somewhere. I think these were taken on the 9th December but who knows!

Weight....not sure but I would guess around 109kg, down 12kg since Oct and down 18.7 since the start.

Chest: 132.5 down 7.5cm since the previous time and 12.5cm overall

Waist: 126.5 cm down 6.5 cm since last time and 8.5cm overall

Hips: 112.5cm down 6.5cm and 7.5cm overall

Neck: 51cm down 3.5cm and 6cm overall.

Thus, in total I have lost 34cm overall....approximately.

Quite pleased with that. I think I will try to take this measurements on the first of each month from now on.....yes, I know you can hardly wait!..... wait, I said that before....arrgggg!!

Ops, sorry its been so long

Its been how long since I last posted something....blimey, sorry about that. I must admit I really don't like writing that much: I hate my writing “style” if indeed the poor way I put words together can be called a style! I read quite a bit even by “normal” non published authors and notice the difference! I suppose it comes down to being in the “slow” class at school back in the 1960's. Just suppose what I could have done with my life if I had been capable of writing as well as I can think. Sigh.

Anyway.... a word I use far too often for my liking, lets up date you on what's happening in my life.

Well at the start of this month (December 2015) I weight in at 109.9kg, down from 127.7kg when first started this epic journey. That's not a bad weight loss but still some way to go. I also....okay, CBH took my measurements see if I have gotten any smaller and yes, it does seem so. They now read:

Neck 51cm, Chest 132.5cm, Waist: 126.5cm and hips 112.5cm...... yes, I am a funny shape! Its my neck and face which seem the most changed visually. Oh and the 23 inch neck shirt CBH brought me for the wedding back in September now seems huge on me! A good sign, although it might mean that I might have to start buying new clothes one day!

Moving on, on the 7th & 8th of the month we had a two day team meeting. It was interesting to note that a couple of people who hadn't seen me for some time remarked on the fact that I was looking well and asked if I had lost weight.... a little I replied not mentioning the gastric band to them. I don't know why but I still want to keep this under wraps. No doubt some Professor or something would say its due to my underlying father related relationship issues or something.... crap I would say, its nothing to do with them!

The team meeting was interested in that it meant eating with other people. Lunch on the first day was fine.... I brought my own so I could have a salad, whereas we went out for a meal after work on the first day and had a more formal lunch on the second day. It wasn't that difficult eating only part of the lunch and leaving the rest saying CBH was cooking a meal for me when I got home. Overall, unlike what would have happened normally, I didn't put on weight while away at team meetings. Oh, and I managed to go for a three mile walk around the City of London on the morning of the second day...it was interesting to see what has changed there (most things) since I worked there back in the 1980's. I did enjoy my trip to London...well apart from the bad cough I brought back with me which laid me up sick and off my bike for nearly two weeks....grrrr.

On the 9th it was time for my second band fill. The nurse was pleased with my progress but added a little more to the band so that I now have 5 ½ ml in it. That's about half full as the thing holds a total of 12ml.

As I highlighted above I was a sick for most of the month and had quite a horrible workload so I didn't really get out much. Indeed, we cancelled two nights out due to illness, which is both a pain as we were looking forward to them, and costly financially. Sigh.

Shall we move forward to Christmas....well being good I managed to put on 1lb over the holiday period, something I have quickly taken off again, so here on the 30th Dec, I now weigh 105.6 kilos, down 4.3kg on the month and 22.1 since September. That means, in old money I have lost 48.7lbs since this all started. When you look at it, that's almost a large bag of spuds I am no longer carrying around with me....although why I would carry a large bag around with me is a little unclear!

So onwards to the New Year! We are out tomorrow night at the theatre and then home in time for the fireworks. I got a feeling 2016 is going to be an epic year of weight loss and doing things I have not been able to do recently due to my weight. I'll write a post about them next month when I have formulated them....expect them to be epic, a little evil and if I know me, unobtainable....sigh, there I go again, putting myself down. Its something I do too readily. I really must stop and look on the bright side of life.

Enjoy your New Year.

Sunday, 15 November 2015

"This won't hurt a bit...."

Morning. Well, I have had my first fill and me don't like it!

So, of to Birmingham I went on Thursday and the first thing to note was the lack of traffic on the M6. For once (and perhaps for once only), the road was totally free of queues meaning I arrived at the clinic half an hour early which gave me time to "people watch" the persons ahead of me in the queue including one women so fat she had to stop for a breathe every few paces... It can't be good being that unfit so at least she was doing some good having a gastric band fitted, although I would have thought a bypass would have been better for her given her possible BMI..... blimey, I am turning into a fat nazi here!

Oh, and please clinic, turn the blood radio off or at least down or to a listenable station. I really feel sorry for kids of now days having to put up with the rubbish which passes for music now days. Its horrible, auto tuned rubbish.... after half an hour of listening to it I was ready to kill!

Moving on quickly to the procedure.... the nurse was very nice and took a short history of how I was getting on with the band and did note, as I thought, that the port was quite high up under the skin (if that makes any sense). and then stuck me with a long needle. I tried not to watch as I am not great with needles but it seemed that the Mr Super had put some fluids in the band: 1ml worth. I thought he said he had left it empty. Anyway, the nurse withdrew this and replaced it with 4ml worth. And, apart from a plaster, that was that.

Having the fill means that its back to liquids for three days but being me, I had to cheat so last evening I ate a small piece of CHB left over pie crust....MISTAKE as I came close to throwing up almost straight away. Must remember to stay away from such lovely food stuffs....sob. As to weight loss, I seem to be stuck again around 113kg. I put this down to not having had a poo since Thursday.

Anyway, on other topics, did a quick cycle ride before yesterdays game....Got VERY wet and winded upon doing a circuit around Penkridge International Airport. Only 8 miles but by then, I was very cold and wet so was very glad to get back to the car and change into something warmer. I have no idea how people do long rides in the rain: it seems to drag all the fun out of cycling. I hate getting wet when exercising. Perhaps I should start going swimming again?

Right that's me done. Got some jobs to do around the house today and some shopping to get with CBH but this afternoon I have a long ride (20 miles plus with a bit of luck planned), so wish me luck.

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Sorry, vomit, cycling and fill day.

Morning and firstly, sorry for not reporting in earlier. I would love to say it has been as I have been so very busy doing lots of exciting stuff like climbing mountains or swimming with dolphins or something like that but truth be known, I am just a lazy git who rarely has anything interesting to say; as you will have noted, so haven't bothered coming back here to tell you all about it.... no wonder Facebook threw me out for being boring!

Anyway, that over, an update on where I am on my weight loss journey and all that. Where am I...stuck. I have managed to lose only a pound over the last week or two, so I am now down to 113.5kg (or about 17st 12). Okay, I should be happy that I have lost weight but I would have liked a few more pounds before today's visit to the clinic (that sounds like I am going to get an STD fixed or something...!). It's not that I am over eating as I have certainly cut down on what I was gorging myself on but I feel that my body is hanging onto every calorie I put into it as its worrying about where its next feed is coming from. Perhaps? Oh however I have discovered one thing I can't eat...wholemeal bread! I had half a slice on Saturday morning which completed bunged me up and caused me to vomit. Not nice but its the only time I have done so, so at least that doesn't seem to be a problem as it can be with some people.

I suppose I look a little different due to the weight loss than I did.... I can see some difference, as can CBH. It was interested that I got a comment at a team meeting on Tuesday by someone who knew I had had the operation (only three people at work do), that I was looking quite well. Good feedback. Talking about being quite well, I saw my GP on Monday who gave me the results of my HC1 blood sugar tests. My count is 44, down from 66 and according to the GP: "almost normal." Which is nice.

Before we move onto today's action at THE CLINIC...... (sorry, trying to build it up) shall we talk about any cycling...well its part of what the blog is about isn't it. Thus, rewinding a little, last Friday I finished work early on the Friday: well I am paid to do around 37 hours a week but had already had done well over 45, so off to the lanes around my favourite village Ranton I went....only to get nearly drown in a rain storm.... not quite but you know what I mean. However, being very stupid, I forgot to put my wet clothes in the washing machine, so next morning they were dank and unpleasant to wear. That afternoon, after finding some clean and dry stuff, a few miles were done around the lakes near Penkridge..... they aren't really lakes but there was so much water on the road, they may as well have been! Oh...and did I mention the wind?

Tuesday it was of into Birmingham for a team meeting, so for a change I cycled to the station.... I managed the "climb" up the first road in the big ring, which is nice and the down hill spin took only 9 minutes. Coming back in the evening is a bit more of a struggle and includes an additional half a mile of travel as I avoid the bridge over the railway line on the Newport Road. Well its only a lane wide at the most, and has metal fencing along side which if you get trapped against will see the end of you. Oh you can try and take a lane but most of the time the killers in their metal boxes won't let you and try to push their way by. Anyway, the 2.2 miles did take 14 minutes but then its uphill most of the way and the wind was still playing up! I think overall I have done about 25 miles this week. I really need to up that if I am going to get fitter...fit enough to do some excellent adventures next year as planned....more on that when I make my mind up!

Finally then, today is fill day! No, its not Phil from East Enders day, but its the day "they" adjust my band to make the hole smaller which should me I can eat less and thus, lose weight. I think given that my weight loss has almost dried up, this should be a good thing for me....not sure I am looking forward to the needle or the three days worth of liquid diet again, but on the positive side, I should have lost a stone by Christmas....oh sorry, if we take the ads on telly that's next week isn't it.....SCREAM.... I HATE CHRISTMAS ADS IN NOVEMBER.... so should finally get back into the 16 stone range, somewhere I have not been since the late 80's I would think.

I promise I will report back in tomorrow after having it done...honest.




Sunday, 1 November 2015

1st November update

Morning all, an update....yes I know you can hardly wait!

Well gets get down to the nitty gritty.... I haven't lost any weight this week! It seems after dumping two stone in a month, my body has gone "WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOO there!" and slammed the brakes on! That, or I have been overeating? I don't know when I look back at what I have been eating as far as I can calculate, I have been staying under 1 200 calories a day all week, so should have lost some?

I don't know....lets see what this week brings. Thinking about this week, it going to be a bit of a challenge as I am off to Stamford on Tuesday for the day, so will have to plan my meals for whilst I am out. The rest of the week I am at home, so it shouldn't be too bad. As for exercising, I need to pick that up a pace: I did a short 20 minute walk on Tuesday, a six mile bike ride on Wednesday, tried to use the treadmill on Thursday but ended up stopping after only 5 minutes with a very sore hip, and had a bike adventure yesterday.....
  
Well did my first bike adventure yesterday since my operation, although I will happily accept that the word “adventure” is somewhat over egging what I did at only 19 miles, but hey ho, it was different from the normal loops I have been doing and did include a muddy canal side path, a cycle path full of cars.... POLICE cars at that and a train ride home!!!


So, faced with “needing” to be in Brereton yesterday afternoon for the epic top of the table clash between unbeaten Brereton Social and the MIGHTY Penkridge FC I was faced with three choices.... I could drive, an idea I quickly dismissed as the roads around here are currently a nightmare with roadworks everywhere....it seems that everyone who is entitled to dig up a road is currently doing so, get the train there and walk the last 2 miles each way, or cycle it! Guess which won?!


Now as the crow flies its only 10 miles or so between here and Brereton but that would include using the extremely unpleasant to cycle on A513, so instead I decided to use the somewhat quieter but quite lumpy Tixall Road out of town to the back of Shugborough Hall where I picked up the rather muddy canal path at Haywood Junction. I followed this path, down to Meadow Lane before rejoining Main Road at Little Heywood, thus avoiding the climb in Great Heywood....okay, its only 100 foot but I am so poor at climbing I would rather go around and risk falling into the canal!


Then after a quick dash along the A51 came my favourite bit of the trip, the hardly used by anyone, Bellamour Lane.... I love this road! It is like roads should be... no traffic, nicely graded and a joy to cycle on. Turning right onto Colton Road brought me to Rugeley Trent Valley station and then onto the cycle path along side the A51 to the ground slowing down only to avoid the four police cars dumped on the cycle path! Nice bit of “showing the public how to act” that.


Overall a nice trip of 15 miles in just over 82 minutes.

After the match (which the MIGHTY Penkridge won 2-0), given that night was falling and I dislike cycling in the dark, I took the London Midland train back from Rugeley to Stafford....never before have I seen so much luggage stored on the train. It was everywhere, so much so I struggled to find a place to stand and rest my bike!


So overall 19.8 miles at an average speed of just over 11mph....not bad for a fat lad and a bit of an adventure.

Sunday, 25 October 2015

One month done....quite a few more to go!

Morning

Well its a month today since I started this process so its time to review how well, or otherwise I have done....firstly however a confession.... I can't find my starting stats so I haven't got anything currently to compare to....sorry.

Anyway, a month ago I seemed to remember I was 127.7kg, or 20stone 1lb. This morning my weight had dropped to 113.9kg, or 17 stone 13lb. So, if my scales are accurate, I have lost 2 stone 2 pounds in a month: or 30lb if you are that way inclined. Quite pleased with that as my first goal is to lose 100lb or just over 7 stone. So, I am a third of a way there already.....

However, I am realistic to know that the first bit is the easy bit. It becomes harder as time goes on as the easy weight to lose will have been lost, while the willpower to lose weight also drops with time until at least the first fill. As an example, I bragged the other day about not needing to eat soft foods as everything seemed to be okay internally with me...hey, look at me, I can eat whatever I want.....well I learned that I couldn't as I eat far too much and felt sick afterwards for ages. So, today I was back on the soft stuff and on the soft stuff I will remain for another 10 days.

Oh and I did my measurements today... I'll find the one's I took at the start of the process eventually. Please don't laugh but...

Neck: 20 3/4 inches
Chest: 53 1/2 inches
Waist: 51 inches
Hips: 45 1/2 inches........ yes, I am a bit of a funny shape!

Shall we move on? Well went to the cinema on Thursday to see The Program (of course it should be Programme but what do those Americans know about speeling!) It wasn't bad but could have been so much better if it had been filmed from the journo's point of view. 6/10 perhaps?

Moving on to my cycling.... the nice gentle winds and warm days we have been having recently have gone, so yesterday it was a quick 7.1 mile ride in the rain before the Penkridge V Wetley game.... when I say "quick" my average speed was 12mph which is moving towards the speed I would like to do as an average. Today (Sunday), out early to do 16 odd miles in temps of 3C..... bleeping cold! Not quite as fast today but the mileage done is the furthest I have done since my operation. Indeed, I have done more miles this month (87) than I did in September. I am just under 1 300 for the year...perhaps I might make it to 1 600 for the year....next year perhaps twice that??? Who knows.

So my week coming then....well its school half term so perhaps a few pre work rides now that the roads will be free of school run cars....please don't get me started on the school run.... A post work ride is now a little difficult as the clocks went back last night meaning it will be dark around 4.30pm and I hate cycling in the dark.

Nothing much more to say so have a nice day and stay away from those chips!

 

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Liquid period over....

Morning

Well the period during which I was permitted to "eat" liquid foods has come to an end and now I can progress onto semi solids....is a chip semi solid?

Looking back, I can't say I enjoyed the liquid stage and did "cheat" a little but mostly stuck to it. Was it worth it? Well my weight has dropped from 127.7kg to 114.7kg this morning, a loss of 2 stone or so in old money. I am pleased about that and people are already noticing I look lighter but there is still loads of weight to go!

Returning to the liquid diet; I can see why it was needed before the operation: to give them space to operate, but I wonder if it was actually needed for more than a few days after the operation from a medical point of view as I seemed to have healed up very quickly and thus, feel I could have eaten semi solids earlier than today. Is it just a way of getting you to stick to a low calorie liquid diet rather than returning to "proper" food before your first fill? I tend to think it is. Not that that's a bad thing but I have been disappointed by the lack of contact by Healthier Weight regarding dieting as, apart from one booklet and an invite to buy food from their sister company, there hasn't been any. Thankfully, I know what I am doing....although that sounds a bit strange given to how fat I managed to get myself!

One thing I haven't been doing is exercising! Again I seem to keep finding reasons not to: its cold, its raining, there is something I need to do otherwise or simply, I can't be arsed. Hummm...overall I think the latter one wins! I do get irritated with myself as I am better thinking it than actually doing it. For example, I spent some time this morning working out a C2C2C route from Whitehaven via Carlisle to Wallsend and then back to Whitehaven via Penrith. Its do-able over five nights and yes, CBH says I can have time off for good behaviour but will I do it? Somehow I doubt it. Also, for our 25th CBH and I are returning to Las Vegas.....that's 8 years time by the way.... so I spent yesterday afternoon looking up the climb of Mount Charlston.... its the 22nd hardest in the US and is on my bucket list. Will I do it? I don't suppose so.

Anyway, on a more positive point, off to the cinema to see "The Program" this evening. Its a film about seven time Tour De France winner (and yes, as everyone else was doping at the time, he was the winner. Although this is a minority view, he should not have had this wins taken off him) Lance Armstrong. For some reason CBH doesn't want to go with me, so I'll be the strange bloke sitting on his own at the back booing the goodies and cheering Armstrong......