One week in...

Its been one week since I started my diet. I have lost 9llbs since monday! If this was a normal diet I would already know it would not be long before I put that back on and then some. But this is not normal! I will never 'eat normal' again. Those 9llbs have gone for good and there are so many more llbs to follow! I have got to be happy about that, so I have to ask myself why I feel so depressed? I know I am having carb withdrawl symthoms, I have had the same feelings on the Atkins diet. I have started patches as I was not doing so well with the giving up smoking along with everything else so I am not having nicotine withdrawl! I just can't stop thinking about the op itself. The closer it is getting the more scared I am. I just need the next week and a half to hurry up! I just can't wait for my new life to start.

I have been out for a walk today, it was lovely, but I am very tired. Either the lack of carbs or its all in my head! I am going to join a ramblers group as soon as I am fit enough. I will have to work my way up to it though as the short walks seem to be around 6 miles, that seems so far right now! I have ordered a few books on ebay for short walks and plan to do at least 2 a week along with aqua fit twice a week. I am so determined to be fit enough for the 27 mile walk next September. I have some family and friends who have said they would to join me in that walk, I feel so supported by that. I am so thankful to those around me and are going through this with me. I have some wonderful friends.

The Weigh In...

This morning my was my first weigh in.  I am 20 St 5llbs (285llbs), my BMI is 47.5.  It feels good knowing that this is it... this is the most it will ever be!  I don't usually feel comfortable telling people how much I weigh but for some reason, today it feels ok.  I have taken photos and I will continue to take these monthly.  I have stopped smoking today and have started a diet ready for my pre-op diet on Thursday.  I still have a mixture of emotions.  I am wondering today why there does not seem to be anybody over 2 years post op in the support groups.  If the first ops in the UK were done in 2002, why is everyone in the group so recent!  Even when I search You Tube everyone seems so recent!  I would really like to speak to someone who has had this a while, I want to know if everything is the same long term.  If you have had the sleeve for over 2 years please email me, I have a lot of questions for you. 

The Starting Point...

My name is Jacky, I am 37 years old and i am a little over 20 stone. I am about to make the biggest change in my life. On September 9th 2010 I am having a Gastric Sleeve, (Weight loss surgery) at the Spire in Southampton.

I have been overweight pretty much most of my adult life. I was not a fat child but I was larger than the other children. Mum tells me its because I was fed properly, the other kids were too skinny. I remember the words puppy fat being used a lot as a teenager. I have battled my way through adulthood on diet after diet, with my clothes size ranging from 12 to 22 for the most part. I am now at my heaviest and wearing clothes size 26/28. A year ago I was diagnosed with PCOS and told this was a reason for finding it so difficult to lose weight, my doctor suggested a gastric band and referred me through the NHS. I was refused, I am just not fat enough. I have to have a BMI of over 65, a heart attack or become diabetic. I wrote to my local MP but being at a point of a general election, he had more important things on his mind. I decided to look into going private. I met Mr Van Den Bosshe at the Spire in Southampton. He expained the options to me, and I decided against the Gastric Band, it comes with to many complications and continuous care. I have decided on the Gastric Sleeve, and this is permanent, this is going to be a whole new way of life.

Last night I had a party at my house to celebrate the start of my new life. It was the last time I will ever drink and eat what ever I wanted. Tomorrow I start a diet to ease me into my Pre Op Diet which starts on Thursday.

I have set a goal for myself, this is not a weight goal or a size goal, this is a fitness goal. One year on from my surgery on 9th September 2011, my goal is to be fit enough to walk 27 miles across Hadrians Wall, raising money for charity at the same time.