A Christmas Miracle

I've been a bit remiss on the blogging front, haven't I? I just don't know where the time has gone. Hubby finally got home from the US on the Monday evening and then on the Wednesday we headed "oooop north" for the Christmas break; we were away for a week and it flew by in the blink of an eye. Christmas has just disappeared; hubby & I were both felt that we didn't get a chance to appreciate the run-up to Christmas, which is one of the parts we enjoy the most. Oh well, there's always next year!

So, Christmas brought with it the usual round of chocolates, crisps, chocolates, biscuits, drinks, chocolates, party food, chocolates. But this year things were slightly different from my point of view because, obviously, there was no over-eating. Yes, I ate more chocolates than usual; yes, I drank more alcohol (in the form of Snowballs) than usual, but that was about it. And, the Christmas miracle came in the form of a 1lb LOSS over the Christmas period. Yep, a LOSS. Must be the first time in history that I have lost weight at this time of year. And it's all down to the band.

14st 5lbs - 201bs - BMI 33.4

(a total loss so far of 61lbs; 33lbs to go!)

Just 2lbs to go til Onederland....

And another first for this time of year - I went out in the snow and I didn't mind. I'm not going to say I love the snow, because I don't but I certainly don't hate it as much as I did when I was 60lbs heavier! I just pulled on my new Ugg boots (courtesy of hubby for Xmas, by way of NYC) and off I went, pulling small boy along on his sledge.

Oh, and another first - I bought a new outift to wear specifically for Christmas Day. The photo quality is appalling - taken with an iPhone which small boy had been playing with (greasy paws all over the lens) - but you get the idea, I'm sure. New dress from Monsoon in UK size 18 (US 14) and a pair of knee-length boots from a regular shop (Clarks), courtesy of my Mum for Xmas.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas break, and Happy New Year too! Here's hoping it's a slender one.

60!!!!!

Two bits of good news today:


1) Hubby is finally on his way home; his flight from Orlando left at 6am Florida time/11am UK time and he is due in about 7pm this evening. Apparently the pilot thinks the flight will take an hour less than usual presumably because the plane weighs almost nothing (a bit like me -hah!) due to there being just 42 people (including crew) onboard! Isn't that crazy?


2) I weighed in this morning another 1lb down - if I didn't miss hubby so much I'd almost want him to stay away longer so my weight continues to plummet! So, I've now lost 60lbs - a great big fat 6-0 pounds have gone and they are NOT coming back. I have no fear about Christmas; I shall eat what/when I like safe in the knowledge that the band will keep me (mostly) on the straight and narrow and Onederland will be here in the New Year.

14st 6lbs - 202bs - BMI 33.6

(a total loss so far of 60lbs; 34lbs to go!)

That's just 3lbs til Onederland!

**** edited to add****

I've only just realised that the 60lbs loss coincided with my 11 month bandiversary! Great timing, non?!

Having a 'mare

Poor hubby is having an absolute nightmare getting home from the USA right now due to the snow in the UK. He started trying to get home on Friday afternoon; it's now Sunday evening and he's a little closer than he was, but not much. Friday he was in San Francisco, his flight from there to Los Angeles got cancelled so he missed his onward flight to the UK; so Saturday morning he flew to Houston from where he was supposed to get an onward flight to London; he got to Houston but the onward flight was cancelled; he was booked on to the same flight a day later (ie today); that flight also got cancelled. He's now waiting for a flight from Houston to Orlando and is booked on a flight from there to London. His flight from Houston has been delayed; luckily (?!) the onward flight has also been delayed. Jeeeeepers, poor hubby.

And poor me too - having to cope with small boy all on my own, in the snow! Our car is snowed in so although the main roads are clear, there's very little chance I can get the car out and get him over to nursery tomorrow, so that's another day I'm going to have to find something to keep him entertained and worn out! Still, the good news is all this lone-parent child-rearing has led me to lose another 1lb!!

14st 7lbs - 203bs - BMI 33.8
(a total loss so far of 59lbs; 35lbs to go!)

That's just 1lb away from 60lbs down and just 4lbs away from Onederland!!!! Will I make it in time for my one year bandiversary? Watch this space...

Now, Don't Be Jealous But....

I met Catherine!

Oh yes indeed, I was lucky enough to meet a Band Superstar in the flesh, in New York! Catherine's was the very first blog I started reading, just before I was banded back in January and she was (and still is) definitely an inspiration.

We had a lovely bandster dinner (soup followed by a shared dessert!) at a trendy restaurant in the Meatpacking District, and we talked and talked for over three hours. It was like meeting up with an old friend, and Catherine is just as lovely as you would expect.

So, not only did I get to meet Catherine, but I had a lovely weekend in NY mostly, but not always, with hubby. We flew in on Friday morning and hot-footed it to the apartment we had rented on the Upper West. We pretty much just dumped our bags and headed straight out the door to refuel at Starbucks before hitting the shops - we had an itinerary to stick to! First stop was Harry's Shoes where hubby bought me a fab pair of Ugg boots for Christmas and from there on in we just kept on shopping (and eating and drinking.) I had quite a bit of trouble zipping up my bag when I headed back to the airport on Monday evening due to the amount of "stuff" I had to cram in.

Sunday evening hubby had to fly to San Francisco for business leaving me all alone in NYC with just a credit card for company...

Although I treated myself to calorie-laden drinks and cakes in Starbucks throughout the weekend, not to mention some bar food (onion rings and mozarella sticks) on Friday evening for our wedding anniversary, I got home on Tuesday morning to find that I was just 2lbs heavier than when we set off. And by this morning those 2lbs have gone and I'm back to 14st 8lbs.

This was the first time I'd flown since having the band fitted in January and one thing I did notice was that it did feel quite tight - I even had trouble getting some water down at one point and then had to make use of the 'sick bag' to get rid of some slime as we were coming in to land and the pilot had turned the seatbelt light on - nice! I also had some aches across my back, in the area of my bra strap, and I know this was where I got my gas pains after being banded (rather that in my shoulder where many people suffered) so I'm assuming it was band-related. Other than that, I didn't have too much trouble and all in all, had a lovely weekend.

Low Today, High on Friday

Perhaps I will make Onderland in time for my one year bandiversary (6 weeks away), because after this morning's trip to the gym the scales rewarded me with

14st 8lbs - 204bs - BMI 33.9

(a total loss so far of 58lbs; 36lbs to go!)

That's just 5lbs away from Onederland, and it's also taken me onto a new BMI number - I'm in the 33s!

So, that's today's low. And Friday's high will be courtesy of one of these

aboard which hubby & I will be winging our merry way to NYC to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary in the city where we were married. Credit card(s) and empty suitcase at the ready.

This is the first time Ive flown since being banded and with 58lbs less of me I'm looking forward to

1) not having to ask for a seatbelt extension

2) fitting into the seat without feeling like the circulation in my thighs will be lost for days

3) being able to get the tray table down far enough that balancing a drink on it is not a precarious manoeuvre

A Week of Firsts, and Seconds

First no. 1) I turned 39 on Monday, for the first time! I also turned 34, for the second time as, for the last few years, I have been counting backwards in birthday years and will continue to do so for as long as I can get away with it.


First no. 2) I went to the gym yesterday for the first time in YEARS. Literally years. I think the last time I went was in 2003. The reflection in the gym mirror suggests I need a new sports bra. I then went back again today for the second time, despite the fact that I had two excuses not to go: 1) my trainers had rubbed so I couldn't wear them and hubby had to hunt in the cupboard under the stairs for another pair; 2) it had snowed. But we all know that since we can see the gym/health club from our house, inclement weather is no excuse not to get there!


First no. 3) I saw a new low on the scales yesterday

14st 9lbs - 205bs - BMI 34.1
(a total loss so far of 57lbs; 37lbs to go!)

Yee haw! At this rate, with continued visits to the gym perhaps I'll be able to get to Onderland before my one year bandiversary (20th January.)

But not if I keep eating delights such as the birthday cake which hubby made for me!