Today’s activity in 31 Days to Build a Better Blog is to think about lists as posts.  I’ve been partial to a few list posts in my time, but I’ve not giving much thought to writing them.  So today I put my head to work and tried to come up with a list post.

I actually surprised myself and came up with a few different list ideas, but I’ve decided to stick with a simple one for today and post a few different list posts over the coming weeks.

In an attempt to let you know a little more useless information about me I thought I would give you….

1. Twitter – I don’t know how people lived without Twitter.  I am addicted.  Totally.  I love all the interaction that you can have without leaving the comfort of your home, and even if you have to leave your home you can take Twitter with you.
2. Etsy – The next evolution from eBay.  I adore Etsy.  I could spend hours just window shopping on the Etsy site.
3. Apple Products – My iPhone never leaves my hand.  My iPod is essential to making my day complete.  My Macbook Pro is my lifeline to the world I love.  I am totally an Apple disciple.
4. Books – I’m a mad reader.  I can’t get enough of books.  I would love to live in a library.  There’s something wonderful about books lined up on a bookshelf.
5. Teddy Bear – My Teddy Bear was a gift from my HUBBY on our first Valentine’s Day together.  I love my teddy bear.  I travel with my teddy, and the couple of times I’ve been in hospital my teddy has come with me.  I tell Ted all my secrets and when I’m really upset and just feeling low Ted is always there for me.  Every girl should have a teddy!
6. Television – I love television.  Only I don’t love watching television the conventional way.  Now it’s all about watching television while watching Twitter.  Or it’s about watching television shows in one big hit from DVD.  There are some really great shows being produced at the moment.  I feel like television is going trough a renaissance of sorts.  Love it!
7. Camera – I love my camera, I just don’t use it as much as I would like.  I love getting a good shot.  I love seeing life through the lens.  I love spending time with the men in my life talking about the shots and comparing what we’ve captured.  Always a great source of enjoyment.
8. HUBBY – Obviously this list isn’t in order of importance… I just didn’t want to put him at the top and then have to live with the gloating.  He’s my best friend and the person I want to rush home to and tell him about everything.  I adore him and would be lost without him.  He’s the perfect accompaniment to my madness.
9. Chocolate – My eating habits changed a lot after my gastric surgery, but one thing that didn’t was my love of chocolate.  There’s nothing better than a chocolate something.  It’s just amazing.  I can’t get enough!
10. Internet – Seriously, what did people do before the internet?  I would be lost without it.  I have meet so many amazing people through the internet.  I’ve learnt so much about the wonderful world we live in.  My mind has just been blown by the things out there on the internet.  I’ve also managed to spend many many hours doing nothing but surfing the internet.  It’s mind blowing.

As a list post it probably won’t go viral, but I’m sure thinking about some posts in the future that I hope will.  It’s given me a new found respect and possible love for the list!

It’s been a long time coming, well it feels like it has anyways, but the day I hit double figures on the scale has finally happened!  The fact is it’s only taken 167 days, or five and a half months, which is totally amazing.  Here’s the figures:

I’d love to say that I have watched every calorie and exercised like a person possessed, but that would be a lie as big as the proposed Mining Tax.  I have eaten what I wanted, just in way smaller amounts.  I’ve been more active, but only when I wanted and when my body allowed me to.  I don’t feel like I’ve done anything outstanding, I’ve just lived life with a restriction that’s out of my control.

I went home and saw my folks for the first time since June 2009, when I was at my heaviest, and they were both amazed at the difference.  My Mum and I spent a bit of time discussing whether I’d actually done the work or not.  My Mum has struggled with her weight as well so it was interesting to hear her perspective on my actions.  She holds strong that I’ve done a lot of hard work, but I have to disagree.  I believe that I haven’t had a choice, so it’s out of my control.  If anything I just made one hard decision and then stuck to it.  Once the surgery was done it was out of my control.  I can’t eat the amounts that I used to even if I wanted to.

It’s been really frustrating at times, but the feeling of being 25kgs lighter certainly makes up for that fleeting frustration.  At times I’ve felt really bad for not being able to finish a meal.  My Dad made me some amazing meals while I was visiting and it was close to heart breaking to not be able to finish them.  Not from a food point of view, but I didn’t want him to think that I didn’t like the meal because I didn’t finish it.  I have the same clash of emotions when we eat at restaurants, but it’s more fleeting because I’m not emotionally invested with the chef in that instance.

I have noticed that I don’t like to eat out as much as I used to.  I just see it as a big waste of money because I can’t finish a meal.  It’s changing how I feel about what we cook in our home as well, which has been an interesting side effect.  I’ve started to view every eating opportunity as a once in a lifetime chance.  I can’t eat everything anymore, so I need to make sure what I get is good stuff.

I allowed myself to buy clothes for the first time in six months yesterday.  I had been holding off on buying clothes until I was under 100kg (which I haven’t been since 2003 – that’s 7 years!!!).  It was a weird feeling to be clothes shopping, and somewhat hard to break some long held shopping strategies.  I don’t need to be confined to really loud patterns and bad cuts as much as I had in the past.  In fact I’m starting to move back into the mainstream sizing and styling.  I finally purchased jeans so I can donate the pairs I have now that are slipping off me at every chance they get.

For the first time in many years I felt good about my appearance yesterday.  I felt like I was getting some of the groove I used to have back.  I’m still a big girl, but I’m not as big as I used to be and there’s no excuse any more for me not to dress appropriately, and fashionably.  I actually felt like hitting a pub last night, listening to good music, laughing and dancing the night away.  I haven’t had that feeling in YEARS.

In fact, today I’m heading in to buy some more clothes for work so I can donate the sacks I’ve been living in for the past five months.  Time to get some items that actually fit and I don’t have to worry about holding up whenever I walk anywhere.  I’m nervous about how I’ll go.  I’ve never been a fan of clothes shopping.  I hate those little rooms, their bad lighting and horrid curtains.  My ego is fragile at the best of times but especially now when I’m starting to think that things are going well.  I’d hate to get in there and find that I’m still having to wear clothing that still starts with a 2.

I need to just focus on what’s coming up, instead of what’s behind.  We have an appointment this month to start on IVF again.  Something that has been lingering over our heads for awhile.  I’m now lighter than I was when we first started the IVF process back in 2005.  I hope it makes a difference, but I’m not confident.  Since the D&C in December I’ve only had one period.  It makes a nice change from the bleeding straight for six months, but it’s not filling me with confidence that my body knows what it’s supposed to be doing. Either way we’ll know soon enough whether we’ll be starting our own family.

So, here it is a week after my 33rd birthday and I’m now in double figures.  I guess that’s one of the best birthday presents a girl could ask for.

One of the meals from my childhood that I’ve wanted to make since becoming an “adult” is Tuna Mornay.  My Mother made a mean tuna mornay and so I’ve been trying to get the recipe for the past couple of years.  I always seem to forget to get it when we’re together, but not this holiday.

Turns out the family secret recipe actually comes from the Day to Day Cookery – a book that all highschool students are forced to purchase for Year 8 Home Economics.  So I put pen to paper and copied out the recipe.  There is no Tuna Mornay, but there is a Salmon Mornay which Mum just tweaks.

With returning to work looming HUBBY and I have decided to cook up some meals that we can take to work throughout the coming week.  Inspired by my Dad’s camping version of Savory Mince I cooked some of my own up last night, and then today I decided to make Tuna Mornay.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how much it actually looks and smells like what my Mum makes.  It’s in the oven now just browning up, so I thought I’d take the time and share the recipe with the interwebz.

Mornay Sauce

60g Butter

4 Tablespoons Flour

2.5 Cups Milk

1 Cup Grated Cheese

Salt, Cayenne, Nutmeg

1. Melt butter, add the flour and cook over gentle heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.  Cook for 2 minutes.

2. Remove saucepan from heat and gradually add warmed milk.  Stir constantly until well blended.

3. Return saucepan to the heat and cook until mixture thickens.  Continue to stir so sauce will be smooth.  Cook for 2 minutes longer.

4. Remove from heat and add grated cheese and salt, cayenne and nutmeg to taste.

Tuna Mornay

1 quantity of Mornay Sauce

1 Onion

1 Tablespoon Butter or Margarine

½ Teaspoon Dry Mustard

A Little Lemon Juice

1 x 880g Tinned Tuna

6 Hard Boiled Eggs

2 Tablespoons Grated Cheese

2 Tablespoons Soft Breadcrumbs

1. Fry chopped onion in a little hot butter and then add to mornay sauce.

2. Season with Lemon Juice and mustard

3. Fold in tuna and 3 sliced eggs.

4. Turn into an oven proof dish.  Place sliced eggs over the top of mixture.  Sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs.

5.  Bake in moderate oven until sauce bubbles and cheese melts.

6. Served with boiled rice.

So there you have it Mum’s Tuna Mornay.  If you make it let me know how it works out.  In the meantime I’m going to run off and enjoy the fruits of my labour.

For this weeks Flickr Faves Mitsy set us some homework.  This week’s theme was set for us; Self Portrait.  We were tasked with finding images that represented who we are.  So without further ado here’s the 9 images I chose to speak to who I am at this moment in time.  The lists is by no means definite or exhaustive. It’s just 9 somewhat random images.

1. gnome – This one is a no brainer in some ways and yet in others it’s surprising.  My gnome “fetish” was well over a decade ago and yet I still have this link to gnomes.  It’s one that I propigate through my own choices, but it still amazes me that these little guys keep coming up in my life.  Sometimes the gnome thing is really random and then at other times it seems apt.  I’m sure when I move on to the next stage in my adventure a gnome will adorn my body’s final resting place.  I just hope it’s a tasteful one, like this one, and not some $2 Crazy Clark’s job!

2. Colored Pens #8,- I love stationery.  I’m a mad pen collector.  I might not drink coffee, but I have a coffee mug collection that grows just to house all the pens I acquire.  I love notepads, blank paper, wrapping paper, envelopes, cards, stickers and the list goes on and on.  There’s nothing more thrilling than a fresh notebook.  That first beautifully empty page.  I love the beginning of a school year when school supplies litter all the shops.  I love stationery!

3. Groovy Rainbow Cupcake,- Food.  I’ve had a constant battle with food.  I love to bake and I love to eat.  Two things that have not been conducive to a healthy lifestyle.  My relationship with food is changing and evolving and I want to be able to still have fun with my food and enjoy my life through my enjoyment of food.

4. star dust and rainbows. 156:365, – I love rainbows.  I love colour.  Lots of colour.  Bold colour.  I also love Converse Chuck Taylor shoes and mad socks.  Rainbows are happy.  I love to be happy.  Happiness is a state that I want to be in for the largest chunk of my life.   I love this image.

5. Tattoo pioeuvre 9,- Much to the misunderstood amusement of my friends and family I love tattoo’s.  I have four.  Two rather large and prominently placed and two smaller pieces.  I will get more.  I love them on other people (when they’re done well); regardless of their age, race, size or subject matter.  To me they’re like a living canvas.  I love the images that people chose to carry with them.  The stories behind them.  The technique that is used to make them.  I love them.  I will continue to think that people that have them are beautiful in their own way, and that the tattoo doesn’t distract from that.  I don’t regret mine, and I hope that those that get tattoo’s don’t regret theirs either.

6. I Want To Read: cover,- I’m a bookworm.  I love a good book.  Although I suspect what I consider to be “good” is not to everyone’s taste.  I love getting lost in a book.  I love the sense of accomplishment when I finish a book.  I love listening to people read from books.  I love going to bookstores and wondering the story picking up and caressing various books.  I’m a bibliophile and proud of it!

7. Girl Painting a Rainbow,- First off, I love the name of this image.  It sounds like it should be a Rollingstone’s song.  I love being creative.  I love to take objects and re-purposing  them.  I love the imagination.  I love seeing what others come up with.  I love the design revolution that’s happening now.  I love spending hours looking online at what people have created and how they incorporate the design trends and their own quirky style into their homes.  I love getting my hands dirty in the creative process.

8. A-Maze-Ing Laughter, – A day without laughter is like a day without sun.  It’s not right.  I can’t get enough of laughing.  I love to laugh; I love to make others laugh.  I love hearing a child just cracking up with their own laughter.  I love watching other people laugh.  I love infectious laughter that flows from one person to another.  I love a good joke.  I love a smartarse comment.  I love a witty insight.  A good pun.  I love a fart joke.  I want to laugh.  I believe our bodies were built for laughter.  I believe laughter is the sound of love.  I want to see this sculpture in person!

9. Macro Game Piece Monday – I’m an online gamer.  I’m addicted to playing an online game.  I love it.  I love playing board games and card games with my friends.  I love strategy and I love the escapism.  I love games.  I love nothing more then a good meal, great company and a few rounds of various games as a good night in.  I love trivia nights.  I love competition.  I love playing.

I loved this task so much it inspired a redesign of my blog theme where I chose photo’s from my life that I have taken that I feel represent all the great things in my life.  (With the exception of friends and family because I didn’t want to use their images without permission.)  I also realised that I used ‘love’ a lot in this task and I think it’s reflective of where I am at the moment.  I’m loving life.  Are you loving your life?

♣♣♣♣♣♣

Wanna see more wonderful self portraits?  Or maybe you want to submit your own.  Head on over to Artmind where Ms Misty is hosting the Flickr Fave party.  Happy St Patrick’s Day!

This Sunday will see the Park Hyatt in Canberra hosting Mathilda’s Market.  It’s a market specifically for selling handmade childrens items.  Now I don’t have any children (at the moment) but 2010 is shaping up to be the year of the childbirth for most of the women in my circle so I’m seizing the opportunity to do some baby present shopping. Besides, it’ll be a nice excuse to get out of the house on Sunday morning.

Mathilda’s Market is held in all capital cities, with the exception of Darwin.  (But I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of time before that is rectified.)

A month after Mathilda’s Market there’ll be the Handmade Market!

This market is not just about the kids, it’s got everything for anyone.  The market has become so popular it’s had to change it’s location to accommodate more stalls and shoppers.  Which is a great indication of how much people love to buy handmade and support local artists and crafters. I’m going to be saving all of my pocket money for this event in March.  Which will mean staying away from the fabric stores!

If you can’t wait till March, you can get a sneak peak of what’s going to be on show and the people doing the showing at the Canberra Handmade Market Blog.

As of April if you can’t make it to a market day there will be the Handmade Market Shop to supply you with your handmade fix.  The shop front opens April 16 and you can keep up-to-date with all the pre-opening happening at the shop’s blog; here.

With these new kids on the market scene it could be easy to forget about the tried and true Old Bus Depot Markets.

Held every Sunday in Canberra in what used to be, strangely enough, the Old Bus Depot these markets are an eclectic collection of craft, art, jewelry, fresh produce and specialty food items.  They also have a food court type area that has a small, but diverse, collection of stall holders.  These markets are a staple in our household.  HUBBY likes them because he can get his coffee fix from the wonderful people at Wagonga Coffee; and I love them because I’m a sucker for anything bright and shiny.

So that’s how I’ll be spending my Sundays for the next few months…

While the weight loss is progressing nicely there’s some side effects that I wasn’t planning on.  While I’m experiencing the best nail growth I think I’ve ever had I’m also having the worst hair loss that I’ve ever had.  I’m losing hair by the clump.  Not just the normal hair loss that my rather thick hair is accustomed to, but full thick clumps of hair.

It’s gotten to the stage where I’ve made an appointment to see my GP.  I need to know if this is normal and what I can do to fix it.  I’ve seen some messages on the Gastric Sleeve Support forums about hair loss and it seems to be a part of the known side effects.  But still, there’s knowing that it happens and having it happen.

I’m also experiencing acne like never before.  It’s not the kind of acne that would have kept me home as a teenager, but it’s still bad for me.  I’ve never really had acne problems before so it’s all new.  I’m hoping that they might be connected and one solution will fix both.

I’m also starting to consider the fact that while I’m not eating a lot of food the foods I have been eating lately are probably not the best even in small doses.  I need to get back on track and make sure that I’m eating more lean protein and vegetables.  Probably need to have less chocolate chip cookies.

I’ve been rather ill this week as well which hasn’t been helping things.  I’ve put it down to stress but it will have been taking it’s toll on my system.  I haven’t been keeping the little food I have been eating in my system for very long.  I am still taking my vitamins like a good little girl, but I’m concerned.

It’s probably also a sign that I should stop watching House… but it’s just so compelling.

Bet you’re wondering where I’ve been… well I’ve been to see the Queen. No, that’s not true. I’ve just been suffering from ‘Sleeve Fatigue’.  I’ve just felt like everything has been revolving around my eating and I don’t deal with that at the best of time.  Let-a-lone when I’m going through a stressful time.  So something had to give and unfortunately it was my blogging.  But I’m trying to get back on track and the first step in that is getting back to my weekly weigh day and stats.  So here they are:

I’d love to say that I’ve been working hard and sticking to eating right, but that would be a lie.  It’s just luck and stress.  Admittedly I can’t eat large amounts of anything so that helps, but still I’ve been enjoying some treats lately that I really should be passing on.  I haven’t even looked at doing anything remotely exercise related.  I just can’t be arsed.

Our house is going through some worrying times at the moment and I’ve allowed that to be my focus.  What I should be doing is concentrating on doing the things that will make a difference and stop with the worrying.  There’s nothing I can do except stick to the plan and wait it out.  So I should try and remember that instead of freaking out and worrying about things I have no hope of changing.

In positive news I managed to get into my favourite pair of jeans which I’ve been holding on to for at least three years in the vain hope I’d one day get back into them.  That day was Wednesday.  Love it!  I’ve also managed to wear some shirts that I’ve not been able to put on since I purchased them.  I’m getting a whole new wardrobe without the expense of having to go and buy new clothes.  It’s kind of exciting.

I’m also really jazzed about being so close to double digits.  Only 5.7kgs to go.  If I was really motivated I’d jump on the treadmill and try and rush to that milestone.  Who knows?  Maybe this rainy weather will motivate me.

I’m still struggling with not being able to eat the amounts I used to.  Sometimes it would be nice to finish a meal.  Although at other times I’m really glad that I can’t eat the amounts I used to.  I guess it’s all a balancing act.  I’ve got to learn to be more accepting.  This is how it’s going to be.  If I want to be able to rejoice in the weight coming off then I’ve got to learn to be happy with the limited amount of intake.  It’s just an adjustment, and as with most changes in my life I’m kicking and screaming about it all.

I’d love to say I’m setting some mini goals for the next week, but I’m struggling with being positive at the moment.  Maybe by the middle of the week somethings will have resolved themselves and I can focus on the positives again.  Please GOD let me get some good news this week. Amen.

This week saw my four week post operative appointment and the official move to “real” food.  So what impacts did it have?

No real surprise there. I thought this week would be a little heavier due to the amount of crap food I’ve eaten.  (Admittedly not my ‘normal’ amount, but still it’s not been great.)

• Food – Well there’s no shock here.  With the move into the realm of real food I gave into the cravings and curiosity.  I don’t know why but I had been fascinated with the thought of how much of the fast food I would now be able to eat.  So I set about seeing for myself.  I wasn’t surprised as such, but I was really grateful to not be able to eat as much as I used to.  It was the same experience as with the Fish and Chips.  It felt so good to be able to walk away from the meal having only eaten a small portion.  I still felt sick afterwards, but it was worth it.  I can’t say I’ll be rushing out to repeat the process.  I am glad I did it though.  I’ll be able to reflect on how much like roadkill I felt after eating it that I won’t want it again.  I had a mini revelation yesterday while trying not to throw up the Hungry Jacks.  I seem to be most frustrated with not being able to eat what I used to after not eating for a long period of time.  I can’t say I’m as hungry as I used to be, but it seems that if I go a long period without eating when I do it it’s like it awakens something and I want to eat it ALL.  I feel good to have made the connection because now it means I can be more vigilant about eating regularly and saving myself the frustration and bad food choices.  I have to admit that I’ve been a little daunted by the thought of cooking.  It seems like such a waste to make a normal meal, but at the same time I really don’t want to be living off easy and quick (eg. bad) choices.  I need to find a balance.  I think that will be my mini food goal for this week – find a balance and variety in my meals.
• Exercise – Nonexistent.  I’m blaming the heat and some really late nights.  It’s been so hot here the last week that just the thought of moving has exhausted me.  It’s meant that I’ve avoided the treadmill.  But today with the cooler change I embraced the moment and cleared out the crap that has started to crowd in my workout room and got ready for a session on the treadmill.  I didn’t do it, I ended up cleaning the spare room, but the day’s not over yet!  I signed up to play Roller Derby this year and ordered my skates and protective gear.  I’m hoping all my gear will be here by Wednesday so I can start practicing my quad skating and getting out and about with some other Derby players.  I really want to get into a lifestyle that includes some social sport.  Baby steps.

My appointment with the surgeon went really well.  We talked about the process and I made some suggestions about ways they could be supporting sleeve patients.  I also talked about my experience with the nursing staff at the hospital and he’s asked that I put it in writing and send it in to the hospital.  He gave me the all clear to play sports and told me that this was it.  My stomach will be healed and this is my new life.  He was happy with my weight loss so far and advised me that I should see the loss start to slow down at 30 BMI.  Which for me is 90 kilograms, so that’s pretty cool.  There was nothing that I wasn’t expecting, so all in all a pretty good visit.

For the first year I need to have quarterly visits and then six monthly in the second year and then yearly from then on.  Apparently they like to run blood tests, etc. to make sure that you’re not malnourished.  I made my next appointment for April, just before I go home for holidays.  The surgeon thinks I will have lost 30 kilograms by the time I head home.  I can’t even begin to imagine what they will be like.  Needless to say, I’m very excited by the thought of it!

This week has seen me return to my workplace.  In the lead up to returning to work I was worried about how I would manage the food and liquid intake.  It has turned out to be different to what I was expecting.

My fluid intake still leaves something to be desired, but I’m heading out on my lunch breaks and picking up a juice so that’s made a difference.  The first few days at work I wasn’t feeling so crash hot so I didn’t really eat that much while I was at work.  But Thursday seemed to see a change in the way my body was reacting to food so I started eating more solid food at work.  It’s not been as bad as I thought it would be.  I’m lucky that I’ve got an hour to let the food settle. 

I’ve been keeping a food journal, thanks to my nifty new moleskine diary.  I’ve also decided (for now) to publish my food journal.  I can’t shake the feeling that it might help someone out there understand what happens and what they can expect when it comes to eating post surgery.  It paints an interesting picture.  I wonder if I should be more vigilant and record fluid intake and the time when I eat.  For now I’m just going to concentrate on keeping the record as I’ve not had a good history of recording my intake in the past.

I have been feeling a little off colour this week so I’ve spent every night (except for our dinner party excursion on Wednesday night) going to bed straight after work.  I’ve not been exercising and I’ve been sleeping in till I absolutely have to get out of bed, so my plans for being super organised and active woman have fallen through the cracks this week.  But I can, and will, change that.

On Saturday afternoon I’m planning on going ice-skating with Alivicwil so that should be a nice little bit of fun exercise for the day.  I’ll also get back on the treadmill on the weekend and start that routine again.  It’s about small steps.

Well it’s happened, I’ve managed to put on weight this week. My measurements are still falling which is great. It actually leads me to believe that the weight gain probably has more to do with the fact that my D&C was nearly four weeks ago so maybe my body is getting it’s routine back together.

I did some things differently this week:

• Exercise – I managed to get three thirty minute bouts on the treadmill done.  I really enjoyed it.  I would have done more but my socializing got in the way.  Curses to New Years!  I’m still a little disappointed that I managed to put on weight despite the increase in exercise, but I am still holding to the fact that it has more to do with other changes that could be taking place.  Oh the joys of being a woman!
• Food – This week I was supposed to move on to puree foods.  I seem to have skipped puree and moved straight on to soft real food.  I have had a few meals this week that were meals and not baby food.  I made egg salad and had some of that with mashed potato.  I had a small chicken wing, salad and cheesecake on New Years Eve.  I ate cheezels and doritos! I had some San Choy Bow and steamed plain noodles on January first.  I also had more cheesecake and bits of Cadbury Flake.  Yesterday I made some tomato soup based mince and pasta and it was yummy.  I’m still struggling with anything dairy and have come to the conclusion that I’ve become lactose intolerant post operation.  It sucks because I really miss milk, but even more so I miss ice-cream!  I’m still drinking a lot of cordial but it’s the only fluid vice I have now milk and soda are off the table.   I’m still struggling with portion control.  I find it really really hard to leave food on my plate; it’s like a compulsion to finish it.

Overall I’m pretty happy with how things are going.  I’m still battling the frustration that accompanies a meal and I have to learn to not take such big mouthfuls of fluid.  (It hurts on the way down!)  I’m a little disappointed that I haven’t lost twenty kilos by the time I return to work, but I knew that would have been a tad ridiculous.  I’m really happy that my measurements are falling, it’s another reason why I’m pretty sure the weight gain this week has been fluid retention.

I’m also really happy with the treadmill and spending time on it.  I was rather ill yesterday so I spent the day in bed and I missed my thirty minutes on the treadmill.  I find it’s a good way to just chill out for awhile and listen to music and daydream.  I’m a big fan of the daydream.

Tomorrow I return to work after nearly three months off due to illness.  I’m a little apprehensive about how I’ll manage my food intake.  I still haven’t quite worked out how to have a meal without feeling queasy afterward and I’m worried about the impact of that on my working day.  But I’m excited to be getting back out into the real world.

I spoke with my old hospital bunk buddy Jo today.  It was great to speak to her and hear how she’s doing.  She’s still on fluids because of a pre-existing condition she has, but she’s looking forward to eating solids.  We talked a lot about what our experiences have been and what we’re looking forward to and how our lives have changed.  I’m so grateful that I made a friend while in hospital, it’s great to know that she’s going through a similar thing. We’ve agreed to meet up for a meal (ha!) in a couple of weeks time after Jo has seen the specialist.  Should be a fun outing.

I met someone on NYE who had a sleeve done FIFTEEN years ago!  The operation was completely different back then, but she’s managed to lose (and keep off) forty-five kilos.  She looks great.  However she did talk a lot about life with a sleeve and it seems to involve a lot of vomiting and lusting after food.  She talked about her limitations (no rice, no meat and vomiting) and how her body feels post surgery.  It was good to talk to someone who’s been through it, even if the surgery was completely different.

All in all it’s been a pretty good week.  I managed to celebrate NYE without feeling like I was missing out, I caught up with a friend and I’ve managed to sleep in everyday this week.  I’m excited about what next week will bring and I’m hoping that it brings some more weight loss with it.  (I can’t help being worried about having had the surgery done and then still having my poor eating habits ruin it!)