I AM OFFICIALLY NO LONGER OVERWEIGHT!!!!

Great News!!!!

As of this morning I am no longer overweight!!!

Start weight 20st5llb (285llbs) NOW 10st9llbs (149llbs)
Start BMI 48 NOW 24.8

I am so happy, I love my SLEEVE!!!!

Thank you for your support!

Big thank you to those who have sponsored us and helped us raise a great big £187 for Cancer Research UK.

The personal achievment from this has meant so much to me too.  It only just over a year since I did my first walk.  I chose a route which was 5k, there were 5 styles on this route.  After 3k I could not lift my feet and I could not get over the 3rd style, in fact Warren had to push me through it!

This walk was 13k and I climbed 24 styles! I wont pretend it was with ease as even though I have lost weight and become fitter, I still have arthritus in my knee, but I managed it! I am so pleased with the level of fitness I have achieved in this short time, and who knows.... next year maybe there wont be 80 year olds overtaking me! LOL!

Help me support Cancer Research UK

Ok, one of my goals was to walk 25miles along Hadrians wall over a weekend on the anniversay of my sleeve.  I didnt make this one, for two reasons, one our friends got married in Poland on the same weekend which by the way was fabulous! and two, I just am not quite that fit yet!  I can walk around 8 miles currently.  I searched for something else that I could do to replace the Hadrians wall walk for now and have found a 13k walk with the Rotary Club in Romsey and I will be doing this walk with my husband on the 9th October to raise money for Cancer Research UK.  There is a link to our fundraising page if you would like to sponser us or use this one http://www.justgiving.com/Jacqueline-Lambert0  Hopefully soon I will be fit enough to do the Hadrians wall one.


EVERY POUND HELPS!!!

ONE YEAR ON....

Well I have just had my one year check up at the Hospital.  It went very well.  My surgeon was so pleased with my progress he asked if I could join them at forums for new patients as an inspiation.  I most definatley will be, this has changed my life so much I would recommend it to anyone.  So...

Total loss in 1 year, 9 stone 4llbs.
BMI from 48 to 26.6 (goal 25)
Body fat from 58.3 to 32% (goal 24 - 27%)
Body muscle from 41.7 to 68% (goal 73 - 76%)
Blood pressure from high to normal
Clothes size from 28UK to 12/14UK
Movement from walking with a limp in special shoes to running in heals!
Marriage status from single to married! LOL
Happiness from Moderate to over the B***** Moon!

It has been one roller coaster of a year but I am so glad I did it.  Just the last few llbs to go and I will be in the ideal range on the charts and no longer overweight/obese/morbidly obese!  My health has improved so much, I am off all medication pre op.  I only take meds due to the op now. I still have a few goals to hit but I have hit so many I know I am going to hit the rest. 

The Honeymoon - Mexico

Well I managed to lose a couple more llbs between the Wedding and going on Honeymoon.  It was fantastic, we had such an amazing time. A honeymoon to remember with our  Tour Xplor day where we zip lined across the jungle we took a 4x4 out across the jungle and paddled rafts in underground rivers.  We went swimming in a sink hole.  We out for dinner on a pirate ship and saw a priate fight.  We took in the Mayan history at Chitchiniza.  And we still found time to relax at the pool and the beach and sip cocktails.  I enjoyed all the activity the relaxing I felt good, and yes I still managed to lose a couple of llbs!!!! must have been all the dancing!

Wedding Day

What can I say.... It was the day I had always dreamed of! It went so smoothly, all the people I wanted to be there were there.  We had an amazing day. I didn't lose as much as I wanted to but my dress had to be taken in, I was happy and I felt like a princess, here are some of the photos...

I'm getting married in the morning.......

What a manic month this has been.  I never thought arranging a wedding would be so stressful!!! I have enjoyed everyminute though!  I have only lost 5llbs in the last month but I seem to have lost inches.  I am fitting into a 14 top in some clothes and my 14 skirts are loose.  I have had to get my wedding dress altered not only did I have to have a few nips and tucks but it had to be taken up! as my hips have got smaller the dress has dropped and was too long for me.  Perfect now though.

My absolutley fabulous best friends organised my hen weekend for me.  We hired a cottage for the weekend, not too far from home, close enough for people to just pop over.  We had 8 girls staying for the whole weekend, 2 came over every day and around another 10 came over for the big party on the Saturday night. 

When we arrived on the Friday we all put on our swimming costumes and jumped straight into the pool.  Then we had a pjama party.  I had not laughed so much for ages, we had a great time.  One of the girls started off a game which has apparantly took the world by storm... The lie down game! you just find somewhere odd to lie down, lie down and have your photo taken! So funny, we were all over the place finding strange places to lie down, then all ended in heap in the middle of the hall.

On the Saturday we started off the day with some lazing in the sun.  We then had a photographer do a little bit of a photo shoot and then started the pool party.  A great afternoon was had by all. 

We then started getting ready for the Saturday night. The girls had chosen a theme.  They all kept it secret from me and kept me locked in a room blind folded whilst everyone got ready.  They then dressed me, did my hair and make up, carefully took me down the stairs to where all my friends were waiting before I was allowed to see what they had done! It was great, they chose Sex in the City as the theme.  Everyone was looking so glam.  I looked in the mirror and I could not believe it was me!  I had spent weeks worrying what they were going to do to me and they did so well, I was amazed.  I found out that they had dressed me as Samantha, who by the way is a slut!!! but a classy slut!!! LOL! more of a couger! I don't watch the programme so I didn't know the charactor! Anyway, We all went on to yet again the most amazing night.  I am so lucky to have such good friends.  Here a few pickies from the weekend....

Thank you to my two best friends Charlie and Hammie for the organising and effort put in, and thank you to all my girlfriends who came along and made it so special.

Well that extra llb I lost put at a total weight loss of 8 stone!  I am so amazed! I feel so good and I can't wait until I become Mrs Johnson at 11:30am tomorrow.  Looking forward to the next chapter of my life. 

I'm OVERWEIGHT!!!!!!

Another 2llbs gone...BMI 29.8... I am no longer obese, I am and I have never been so happy to be OVERWEIGHT!!!

I can RUN!!!!

Well the last 2 weeks I have been on a stall, kept putting the same llb on and off again but its now gone along with another making my weight loss 7 and a half stone.  The other good news is that I have hit another goal, only ever so slightly but it has been hit all the same.  Even with all the exercise I have been doing I have still got in the car to go to the shops, today I thought I would walk.. but when I got to the end of my drive I just started running and run all the way to the shops!!! Its not that far but a huge achievment all the same.  I don't think I have intentionally run for about 23 years. This feels so good.  I LOVE MY SLEEVE... have I mentioned that before!!!

I FIT IN THE RIDES.....

Another Goal Hit......

Yesterday I went to the fun fair, fit in the rides, the harnesses did not crush me and I had a bloody good time!!!  Felt a bit sick afterwards though!!! I blame the spinny man on the Waltzer! LOL!

GOODBYE 13 STONE...

Todays weight = 12 stone 13 pounds.... goodbye 13 stone, may I never see you again...

ONE HUNDRED POUNDS..................

Good News first... Its been 7 months and 2 weeks and I have now lost 100llbs. I can't quite believe how fast this is going! While I was fitting nicely into a size 14 skirt and 16 top in a shop yesterday I was so excited but at the same time wondering how I ever let myself get to a size 28 in the first place!!! If it wasn't for my sleeve I would be in at least a 30 by now.  I feel blessed to have had the sleeve and I am enjoying my new life.

I would say to anyone who is considering the sleeve to go for it.  Its not the answer or solution! you still have to work hard at it, I have never had to consider what I am eating the way I have to now and the exercise is oh so important to help with the extra skin. The difference is now the motivation!  I am never hungry so I eating is now something I have to do rather than do because I am bored or upset or for any other reason I would give before.  I have to carefully think about what I eat and make sure I am getting the right nutrients and keep my protein levels high, with no cravings, no urge to eat those high sugar foods, I am happy to sit with a starter while those around me bloat themselves out with a 3 course meal.  I still do treat myself, I do have a downfall, and that is crisps,  they are one of the very few bad things I can eat that doesn't hurt when I eat, or make me vomit, or give me such a sugar rush I get high!!!!  As I am not spending so much time cooking and eating I have more time to be active and as the weight is dropping off I can do more and work harder.  The aches and pains I had due to the weight are virtually gone.  I feel like a new person!!

The not so good news... the side effects from the sleeve!  still having hair loss but it seems to have slowed down which is fabulous, been taking extra vitamins and upped my protein and I am hoping that has helped.  I went to the doctors a couple of weeks ago as I have been having some pain toward the bottom of my right ribs.  Its deep inside and is more uncomfortable and dull sort of pain than stabbing.  I have pain after I have eaten but I thought that was just due to the sleeve.  Doc refered me to hospital for an ultra sound.  They have found multiple gall stones! Doc said to put up with as long as I can and as soon as it starts to get to painful then he will refer me to a surgeon to have my gall bladder removed.  I really do not want surgery before my wedding.  I can't risk any complications and I cannot refrain from exercise! It is not bad enough to take pain killers so I am going to hold out until at least after my wedding.  I also really can't bare the thought of more surgery right now!

Anyway all in all, side effects, complications, restrictions.... it doesn't matter... I LOVE MY SLEEVE...

6 Month Check up...

Had my 6 month check today and it went really well. Doctor and surprisingly the dietician were very pleased with my progress.... weight loss 6st 5llbs (89llbs) fat gone from 58.3% to 40.1%, BMI from 48 to 33. I can safely say I am pleased with that too!  Doc asked if I had an old picture of me which I had on my phone, he took a look and said 'don't ever go back to that'  and smiled, it was lovely, he really is my life saver and I don't think I could be more grateful to one person than I am to my wonderful Doctor - Mr Van Den Bossche.

B12 deficient!!!

I will start with the good news... this week I lost 3llbs taking me down to 14 stone exactly.  One more to go to the 13's YEY!  I am now feeling thin! I went out on Saturday and the last time I went clubbing I felt out of place, like the fattest person in the room and I hid in the corner till I was drunk enough to not care.  This time I felt great, I looked around and I was thin in comparrison to a lot of quite young girls in there! I felt good too and I had a great night, it was so lovely to have my partner telling me how good I looked all night too!  I am still an 18 on top and a 16 on bottom and I don't think I'm gonna make it into the size 12 wedding dress I have by June.. just can't get rid of the boobs!  so I'm on the lookout for a size 14, and with the extra skin I am starting to get, I think I definatley need sleeves! not so easy to get though!

Not so good news this week...

My hair continues to fall out by the handfull, its getting so thin! I have my 6 month check up on Thursday so I will ask my surgeons advice, I NEED HAIR for my wedding! I have also been diagnosed as B12 deficient.  I have to have injections 6 times over the next fortnight and then once every three months for the rest of my life.  I have a lot of questions to ask but my usual nurse was not at the surgery today and when the locum had to read the instructions and asked if it was for iron! I thought I would wait until my nurse is back!  or more questions for the surgeon on Thursday! I am hoping they can give me it in tablet form, horrible injection it really hurt!

Hey ho, that aside... life is Great! I feel Great! and I do believe I am looking Great too!!! LOL!

I LOVE MY SLEEVE!

A Goal worth celebrating..... but how!!!

Woooo Hooo... I have joined the 199 club!!!   FINALY!

Its been a hard last few pounds and losing now at a rate of 2llbs per week on average, I have now lost 86llbs and will never ever see 200llbs again!!!

Trying to think of a way to celebrate... champagne? chocolate? cake?  LOL! not likely there is a couple of llbs right there! Got to make sure I don't put a llb back on maybe I will celebrate with a nice long walk!

I am so happy, the SLEEVE is the best thing I have ever done... I LOVE MY SLEEVE!

First photo taken in August 2010, 2 weeks pre op weighing 20st 5llb and second photo taken February 2011, 5 months post op weighing 14st 5llb.

So much to tell......

Well its been a over a month since I have been on here and so much has happened.  I will start with the weight, I have now lost 81llbs,  3 llbs to go to 6 stone loss and 5llbs to go to join the 199's club.... can't wait!

Well first of all there was Christmas... We had our works Christmas Doo on the 23rd December and for the first time in front of my colleauges I wore a dress... I got so many compliments that night it boosted my confidence so much it was fantastic.   I could not believe how comfortable I felt...

 

It was hard doing the whole 3 course meal thing, but I survived!  I had smoked salmon starter, then the main was on a buffet, so I had a piece of beef and a couple of vegetables and half a potato, followed by cheese.  I thought I managed quite well!  I did have quite a bit to drink then hit the dance floor and had a little bit of a room party afterwards.  It was definatley the best Christmas party I have had since I have been with this company, and I have been there nearly 8 years.

The following day, Christmas Eve I made my way to my brothers house in Chippenham for the start of an excellent Christmas.  My sister in law made fabulous food and did everything family service so I could just choose the amount I wanted.  With so many people around the table I did not feel awkward only eating a little.  

I left their house the day after boxing day and went home. The next morning I got on the scales and to my surprise I had not only lost the llb I had put on in Lanzarote but I had lost 5llbs!!!!!  I have never had a Christmas before where I have not put on at least 5 llbs, it was fabulous!

Warren and I then set the date for our Wedding... June 18th this year.  I have gone from a size 28 to an 18 since September and I need to get into a size 12 by June.... I needed more excercise!

So now, aswell as the two Aqua Fit classes a week, I have joined Zumba on a Monday and I have started my own little walking gorup on a Sunday.  I am lucky enough to live on the outskirts of The New Forest so there are so many beautiful walks near by.  We have started off doing 4 and 5 mile walks but accidently after missing a turning did an 8 mile walk.. that one hurt a little!  but when I think back to July 2010 before the op, my partner and I went out to do a 3 and a half mile walk! I struggled!  I could not lift my feet after 2 miles and Warren had to push me through the styles because my knees hurt too much to climb over them!  I would never have imaginged being able to walk 8 miles back then!  I feel so much fitter but I still have such a long way to go... I do believe I will make my goal to walk the 25 mile hike along Hadrians Wall on my sleeveaversary!

Everyone around me are still being so supportive, my friends are so amazing, I could not have done this without them.  I love you guys so much and I can't wait to share my special day with you... you know who you are...