Week Four

Time for blogging...!

It's now been four weeks since my OP, Christmas has come and gone and soon it's a new year. The past week I've been solely on solid foods and it's been great. I've tried, pasta, rye bread, crisp bread, meat, poultry and different kinds of fish. Love mackerel in tomato sauce and tuna. Yay - upside!

However, like almost everything else in life there's a downside to this newfound pleasure in bread, chicken and fish! My stomach has had a really tough time processing the bread and the poultry! Unless it's been chewed in to itzy-bitzy molecules...it ain't gonna go down easily! It's like it finds a spot right between my esophagus, ribs and stomach and that's where it's gonna stay 'till I've learned my lesson... How about that?!

Symptoms? Difficulty breathing and stomach ache. If I'd say so myself, I'm very careful with my food and almost count every bite - and still it's very sensitive...when will it end?! :o/

Hmmm.. I know it'll end eventually, I just feel like I'm really doing my best and being very careful and still my stomach "has issues"..!!

I'm sure many of you have thought about "what are you gonna do for Christmas?" - well, what I did was eat a piece of roast pork, a tiny bit of sauce, beans and one small caramelised potato - ONE, okay.. and then the punishment came immediately... Needed to walk around for about ten minutes for it to settle and when that didn't help I almost had surrender to my finger and the bathroom sink..you know that sensation of saliva in your mouth and there's a pressure from your stomach, but NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN..!! You're just stuck with pain! (Dear Reader, sorry for the image I'm putting in your head - but I did warn you upon entering this site!)..

Anyways - the result for the week gone past - check top-right corner!

What to do - getting a tattoo..

Folks, I've found the tattoos I want.. One on each wrist!

#1 - My zodiac sign and the date 01.12.10 in Roman numerals...

(0IXIIX) in the top-curve of the sign.. I don't want the text "Libra blah, blah.."..

#2 - The Chinese signs for "perseverance" and "strengh"..

 

Cool, eh?! ;o)

A Winter Wonderland...

I usually don't bitch about the weather - but I'm getting p-r-e-t-t-y tired of the snow at this moment!

Don't get me wrong - I love the whole idea of a White Christmas - like Bing Crosby would have wanted it - but when I keeps me from spending the biggest holiday of the year together with my whole family - it pisses me off!! I'm really sad about this... and there seems to be no way around it!

We are NOT happy...

I've promised a friend to post a few pictures of winter in the blog - here you go!

Week Three

I'm done with week three!

It's been a week of more solid food items - a little scary at first, since I had no idea how my stomach would react. It seem as if all is good down there - in my stomach... No complaints and it feels full and satisfied after each meals... I suppose eating 7 times a day should make your stomach feel full!

Although the menu has still been somewhat monotone, because I've still been restricted to food that was more or less pureed - the mashed potatoes, veggies etc.. But hey - it's been real food and less of the Nupo Shakers!

I've been home - by myself - since Friday and it's been really good to be on my own. Having to deal with everyday-life more and more.. Due to the weather I haven't been out much, but I've had my occassional walk to the local grocery store to get milk, yoghurt and stuff... It feels good!

Even though I haven't been put much - it's been a good week for the weigh-in. Have a look top-right corner on the blog!

Y'all know how anxious I am to back to my exercising, right?! So yesterday I call Hamlet and spoke with the nurse. She told me to take it easy on the treadmill - if I feel it pulling in my left side, I need to stop. That's listening to the body and it's telling you that you are overdoing it..!! Anyway - I'll start up easily - get on the treadmill with a small climb and then just take it from there.. Don't know when it'll be though - the roads are closed, the trains are frozen solid, busses with no tires for the winter, etc.... :o/

On with Week Four!

Cooking again...

Just to prove to y'all - made these fine meatballs for dinner! And they were DE-licious... Although, next time I'll use some more spice - maybe give them an italian taste.. Anyway - here's a pic of my dinner - it looks like a lot when it's on a small plate, eh?! ;o)

Week Two

Hey all!

Week Two has come and gone so it's time for an update...

The past week as been pretty uneventful - the diet was the same as week 1 - fluids and more fluids.
I fairly quickly came to terms with the fact that I had to do 2 full weeks of only fluids .... but now they are OVER! *..doing the can-can..*

I've started on Phase 2 today and this is what it looks like:

Breakfast 8am-10am

• 1½ dl of skimmed milk
• 1-2 dl of coffee or tea
• 1½ dl of yoghurt or 120-150 gr. "steady" oatmeal or "øllebrød" (dish made of rye bread, sugar, and non-alcoholic beer)

Snack 10am-12pm

• 1 portion of Nupo Soup or Shake
• 1 dl of juice or 100 gr. mashed fruit or stewed fruit
• 1 dl of skimmed milk

Lunch 12pm-2pm

• 40 gr. of mashed vegetables
• 40 gr. of mashed potatoes
• 50 gr. of boiled minced meat/light fish or scrambled eggs or cheese sticks 30+ (17%)
• 1 portion of Nupo Soup or Shake
• 1 dl of skimmed milk

Snack 2pm-4pm

• 1 dl of coffee or tea
• 1 dl of skimmed milk
• 1½ dl of yoghurt

Snack 4pm-6pm

• 1 portion of Nupo Soup or Shake
• 1 dl of skimmed milk
• 1 dl of juice or 100 gr. mashed fruit or stewed fruit

Dinner 6pm-8pm

• 40 gr. of mashed vegetables
• 40 gr. of mashed potatoes
• 50 gr. of boiled minced meat/white fish
• 1½ dl of skimmed milk

Snack 8pm-10pm

• 1 dl of skimmed milk
• 1 dl of coffee or tea

Throughout the day I have an additional 1½ Litre of water - however, I'm not allowed to drink until ½ hrs after I have eaten! Very important. Why? Because my tiny stomach needs to "absorb" all the nutrients from the food before it's being "flushed" through the system.

Although it doesn't look like much, but I'm stoked about getting real food now! My yoghurt this morning - I'm tellin' ya - it was gooooood! Some of you might now be asking yourselves: Is she preparing each meal individually?! The answer is: No.. I do enjoy preparing my food and even if I have the time these days, it's just not that much fun - so instead I prepare for a few days ahead (..only lunch and dinner, though..)

SO - what else have I been upto this past week. Oh yeah - I've had the pleasure of being on a few walks. Fortunately, the weather has been gorgeous and very sunny outside - but still below 0 C...but it's all good - I like the winter...as long as the sun is out...

I'm almost done with "Og hun takkede guderne" by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Think I've got another 100 pages to go..no biggie..

And finally I've come to the part that most of you enjoy the most about this blog - this week's weigh-in.. ;o)

The weigh-in ticker is PI***** ME OFF, so kindly click in the top-right corner on "Weigh-ins..." for an update for Week Two.

Week One

The first week since the surgery is now behind me and things are progressing....bit by bit.
After the surgery and when I woke up later in the day, I was feeling "OK". Felt some pain and soreness which is normal. The following days kinda went like this:

Wednesday: Everything's sore, pain and blurry. Slept most of the day/night after the surgery. Only getting sips of fluids (food)..

Thursday: Felt fine and had my first shower - felt a little woozy after the drive back to my parents' house. Could there have been anymore bumps in the road?! (Yes, Chanandeler Bing makes me laugh and stay positive!) Started on the "new life" with a minimal of fluids (food)..

Friday: Totally knackered! Felt really tired, nauceous and down-right BAAAAH! Slept most of the day and took some painkillers. At this point I'm thinking "WHY did I do this to myself?!"..... Went for a short walk with my Dad and then straight to bed and slept about10 hrs..Took the last painkiller Friday night (haven't taken one since - yay!)

Saturday: After a good night's sleep I feel rested and ready to take on "The Big Menu" - read: a FULL day of fluids - not just sips here and there, mind you! So the day starts off well and by late aftenoon I succumb to the facts that I am nowhere near getting it all down! But isn't less better when you're on a diet?! Hey, wait a minute - THIS IS NOT A DIET! This is MY LIFE! Oh well, at least I got most of it down...So instead of whininig and feeling sorry for myself, I started to look forward to a day in bed/on the couch watching my favorite footy team...just until match was cancelled due to snow?! What's up with the world?!

Sunday: Still feeling sore inside or is it just my 5 small incisions and the stitches? Difficult to tell.. Sunday is starting bright though - am having the feeling that I'll be able to consume "The Big Menu" today. And down it went! However, I literally feel like I'm eating every 5 minutes.. It all goes down, but goes down slowly. Don't want to risk eating too fast only to vomit it all up afterwards.
After a good Sunday I feel ready to start on Fase 2 by the end of the coming week, so I decide to go ahead and give my dietian at Hamlet a call on Monday - see what the status is. Being very optimistic about "The Bigger Menu" in Fase 2 - whoopi!

Monday: Whoopi my A**! According to the surgeons I can't start on Fase 2 until Wednesday next week. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Reason being: We want to give your new stomach and intestines the best possible conditons for recovery and patching up inside.. Grrrr! I want FOOOOOD.. By now I've been on Nupo for God only knows how long (8 weeks to be exact, but who's counting!). Anyway, we talked and she said it sounded really good that I am now able to eat all my food and vitamins. I can also drink my full 0.5 L of water alongside.

Tuesday: This day concludes Week One and I'll be back on the scale Wednesday morning. Excited to see the fruits of my labour. I've come to terms with the fact that I have a full week ahead of me on fluids.. dang!

Summary: I'm getting better at eating all my fluids and basically I haven't really done much else this entire week. Been sleeping, reading "Og hun takkede guderne" by Jussi Adler-Olsen, watching "Will & Grace"...Jack cracks me up!

Result for Week One click on top-right "Weigh-ins..".

Can only be happy, right?

A toast to new beginnings...

In just a few more hours I'll be going under for the "nip & tuck" of my life.. Not literally, but...y'all know what's gonna happen... and I'm sooo ready, so let's get it on..! Anyway...

I've had a good nights sleep and am pretty much all packed. I think I've got it all in fact...so nothing more to say, but...

...See ya later!

Reaching the finish line..

Since my first weigh-in at my doctors office in April, I've finally reached the finish line. Have a look below. :o)

The cat is outta the bag...

As many of you already know Christmas has come early this year.. Mom asked me earlier today about what I wanted for Christmas. My answer? Nothing, cause I get my gift on Dec. 1st.. :o)

Earlier today my colleagues were informed of my surgery. We have an Intranet where lots of stuff is posted - including staff news - leave of absence, illness and so forth...

Now - I can't wait till Wednesday - I'm really excited... I'm a bit anxious to know more about how I'll be prepped or surgery, y'know.. Will I have a tube down my throat, how does anesthesia feel when I wake up - will I be on a high?! Hahaha..cool colours, duuuude..

I guess I'll know in good time, peeps.. :o)



Tenacity

I'm tempted to say that tenacity is my BFF, but there are days when I just wanna slap it in the face! However, NOT today... ;o) As stated in my previous post from today, I'm down to only 0.5 kilos to go. I'm pumped, psyched and ready to nip that one in the butt and be done with it on Friday!

Spoke to my dietician today - they have me scheduled or December 21st. - but since they will be rescheduling every week and spots will open up all the time, we agreed on me getting on the acute list. I have a few things to sort out, so I'll be on the list from Wednesday next week and onwards. To have a more exact date I'll have to call the patients office on Thursday when they are rescheduling surgeries due to other people not meeting their goal weight before surgery - this opens up a spot for MOI! Yay...

Soooo....I'll know more on Thursday! However, one thing is for sure - it'll be on Dec. 21st. at the latest!! :o)

Questions?

Oh, and she also told me that I'd done a great job losing the weight!

The Progress...vol. 5..

And we're almost there... only 500 grams to go.. Should be done by Friday, I reckon.. :o) Don't know why the ticker looks so weird..the nummer "2" you see, actually the "2" in the final number 12 from previous updates.. (have a look back, if this is unclear...haha)..

What to expect...

Second visit for Pre-OP at Hamlet today - waaaaaay to much information in my head at the moment!! :o/

I knew a lot of the stuff prior to the meeting - however, it's always good to have things told and get the chance to ask questions. I had a few uncleared issues regarding the diet.

We were a group of 15-20 people in total - all cleared for surgery.

First the dietician went through everything concerning the diet. Although a lot of it is written in my folder, but a few key points were cleared up - where I'm concerned - so that's great. Basically I will be eating constantly for the first 2 weeks - literally. Gradually I will be able to eat more normally during the following 3-5 weeks. I will put up the schedules when I get that far, okay? ;o) No need for too many spoilers already, eh?! Hahahah..

For my best recovery it is essential to follow the instructions given by my dietician and the doctors. I could become very ill, if I'm not careful with my food. There will be many sorts of food that I won't be able to eat - at all again. That's gonna be fun testing?! Hahahaha.. Some foods will be off the menu for at least 2-3 months, because they are too difficult for my system to digest. We also talked about alcohol and the effect that will have on your body. I'll be a very cheap date!! Think I'll test it a few times at home before going out on the town.. hahaha..

After that the assisting surgeon came to tell us about the surgery. I will be admitted for 1 day - going in one day and out the next day. Easy-piecy. The surgery itself will take about 30 mins....yeah, I know - THAT fast?!

One of the surgeons have done over 6000 surgeries, and he once did it in 21 mins.. Quite impressive - however, if you've done something over 6000 times, you'd be pretty good at it too, right?! On a more serious note - it will take about an hour - give or take.

It's really all very tecnical and difficukt to explain, but let's see: they make 5 small incisions right between the sternum and the stomach. It will be a laparoscopic surgery - the "keyhole" in the middle - the to outer tools holding the liver and the intestines away from the stomach and the two inner tools will do the cutting and stapling at the same time. See picture above.

So - what can I expect from the surgery? First of all - it's only a tool to getting healthier. The first 3-4 months I can expect to drop 10 kilos/month - that is very normal. After 12-18 months the weight loss will be minimal and that's when all my own hard work will start paying off - keep making wise food choices and exercise. I will lose an average of 75% of my "excess weight" within a year. Worldwide studies have showed really good results in regards to the longterm results of Gastric Bypass-surgeries. Yay!

I'll be out of work for 4-6 weeks. I need to have my diet down to the T! And that's my last word on that issue.

When can I start my exercise again? Easy-going exercise efter 3 weeks and after 6 weeks there will be no restrictions. Yay again! However, it's always a wise choice to listen to my body.

Any questions?

The Progress...vol. 4..

Latest update: Went on the scale this morning before my meeting at Hamlet.




I've set a date for myself - Monday 29th...that's when I'll reach my goal...and THAT's when I'll get on the shortlist for acute surgery. This means I can have the surgery within 10 days after I've called in...makes sense? :o)

I'll need a favor of y'all - not to ask about the weight for the next 2 weeks. I'm stressed, I'm frustrated, I'm happy, I'm sick and tired of Nupo, my muscles and body is hurting from exercising, but most of ALL - I'm focused! Please follow the blog/weight ticker and it will all be over soon.

I really need this...so thanks.. :o)

Click...

Can't hardly wait till Saturday.....

A Jar of Mayonnaise

When things in life get too much - when 24 hrs a day is not enough;
remember a jar a mayonnaise and two cups of coffee.

A professor in philosophy stood in front of his class and a few things were laid out on his desk.
As class started he lifted - without a word - a very large and empty jar of mayonnaise and started to fill it with golfballs.

He then asked the students: Is this jar full?

They all agreed that it was full.

The professor then took a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar a little and the pebbles rolled into the small spaces between the golfballs.

He asked the students again: Is this jar full?

They all agreed that it was full.

The professor then took a box with sand and poured it into the jar. Of course the sand filled up between the golfballs and the pebbles.

Once again the professor asked: Is this jar full?

The students gave a unanimously "Yes".
Finally the professor took the 2 cups of coffee from under the table and poured them into the jar - which filled the empty space between the grit. The students laughed.

"Now" - the professor said while the laughter faded - "I wish for you all to understand that this jar represents your lives. The golfballs are the important things - God, family, kids, health, friends and your passions. Things which would still make your life meaningful when all other is lost. The pebbles are the things that matter - your job, house and car. The sand is the rest - the little things."

"If you pour in the sand first" - he continued - "there will not be any room for the pebbles and the golfballs- Same thing will happen in life. If you spend all your time and energy on the little things, there will never be any room for the important things.

So....
Notice the things that are essential for your happiness.
Play with your kids.
Make an appointment to have your health checked out.
Take your loved one out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and fixing the dripping faucet.

Take care of the golfballs first - the things that are really important to you.
Prioritize. The rest.....is just sand."

One of the students raised their hand and asked: "Why the coffee?"

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked." - "That's only to show you that no matter what fills up your life, there's always room for a cup of coffee with a friend."

Please share this with other "golfballs"...I just did.. ;o)

Stof til eftertanke..

Mayonnaisekrukken


Når tingene i dit liv næsten bliver for meget,
når 24 timer om dagen ikke er nok;
så husk mayonnaisekrukken og to kopper kaffe.


En professor stod foran sit filosofihold og foran ham lå nogle ting.


Da timen begyndte, tog han – uden et ord – en meget stor og tom mayonnaisekrukke op og begyndte at fylde den med golfbolde.


Så spurgte han studenterne, om krukken var fuld.
Det var de enige om, at den var.


Professoren tog så en kasse småsten og hældte dem i krukken. Han rystede krukken let. Småstenene rullede ind i de tomme områder mellem golfboldene.
Så spurgte han igen studenterne, om krukken var fuld.


Det var de enige om.


Det næste professoren tog op, var en kasse sand, som han hældte i krukken. Selvfølgelig fyldte sandet alt andet op.


En gang til spurgte han, om krukken var fuld.


Studenterne svarede med et enstemmigt ”ja”.


Så fandt professoren to kopper kaffe frem under bordet og hældte deres indhold i krukken, hvilket effektivt fyldte de tomme rum mellem sandkornene. Studenterne lo.


”Nu,” sagde professoren, mens latteren døde ud, ”ønsker jeg, at I forstår, at denne krukke repræsenterer jeres liv. Golfboldene er de vigtige ting – Gud, familien, børn, helbred, venner og foretrukne lidenskaber. Ting, som –hvis alt andet blev mistet og kun de var tilbage – stadig ville gøre dit liv fuldt. Småstenene er de ting, der betyder noget, såsom dit job, hus og bil. Sandet er alt det andet – de små ting.”


”Hvis du først hælder sandet i krukken,” fortsatte han, ”er der ikke plads til småstenene og golfboldene. Det samme gælder i livet. Hvis du bruger al din tid og energi på de små ting, vil der aldrig være plads til de ting, der er vigtige for dig.


Så …


Vær opmærksom på de ting, der er alfa og omega for din lykke.
Leg med dine børn.
Tag dig tid til at få lavet helbredsundersøgelser.
Tag din partner med ud til middag.


Der vil altid være tid til at gøre huset rent og fikse den dryppende hane.


Tag dig af golfboldene først – de ting, der virkelig betyder noget.


Lav dine prioriteringer. Resten er bare sand.”


En af studenterne rakte hånden op og spurgte, hvad kaffen repræsenterede.


Professoren smilede:
”Jeg er glad for, at du spurgte”.
"Den er bare med for at vise, at lige meget hvor meget, du har stoppet ind i dit liv, er der altid plads til et par kopper kaffe med en ven.”


Vær sød at dele denne med andre ”golfbolde”.


Det gjorde jeg lige nu …

I've Got Mail

In short: Monday, 15th of November at 8.30am..
The meeting will be about weight loss, diet, hospitalization, anesthesia and the continuous process after the surgery.. another step in the right direction!

The Playlist

Thought I'd share my playlist with you.
My playlist is the list songs that I listen to while swearing and cursing at the pain in my legs and butt while I'm on the spinbike... And for the life of me I can't even tell you why I - in fact - really enjoy this kind of torture - 3 to 4 times a week.....! (No, I only do one list at a time..)

Anyway - click on the song and a you will be guided over on YouTube for the video. Enjoy!

List One

01. Broken Wings - Mister Mister
02. Cry To Me - Solomon Burke
03. Jeg vil ha' dig for mig selv - Burhan G
04. Samb Adagio - Safri Duo
05. Shake That A** - Eminem
06. Yo Yo - Joey Moe
07. I'm Your Man - Wham!
08. Miami - The Underdog Project
09. Ensom - Medina
10. I Gotta Feeling - BEP (Seriously, this one kills me!!!)
11. Home (Acoustic) - Daughtry (...stretch and breeeeeath...)


List Two

01. Song For Sophie - Aura
02. Når tiden går baglæns - Clara Sofie ft. Rune RK
03. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias
04. Nitten - Thomas Holm
05. Dynamite - Taio Cruz
06. Hang With Me - Robyn
07. Dancing On My Own - Robyn
08. Heartbeat - Enrique Iglesias
09. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars
10. Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart - Alicia Keys
11. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

The Waiting Game

Time for a quick update before the weigh-in Monday morning..

Got a call today from the secretary at Hamlet - it's a bit difficult to explain, but I'll give it a go. :o)
Remember that the last time I spoke to my dietician, we agreed on postponing my surgery to week 48? Yes?

Right...see now - there are no available days in week 48 (at the moment!), so instead  I'm "sceduled" to week 51(still before X-mas, peeps!). HOWEVER - as soon as I reach the finish line I'll be on the list for immediate surgery in case someone else falls through. Like the nice lady told me - they reschedule surgeries every week and it is still very likely that I will get the surgery in either late week 47, in week 48 as previously planned or even early week 49 - so absolutely no panic..

My take on this is - it was nice of them to call and keep me in the loop...I won't get upset or stressed over this, cause I WILL get the surgery.. Just a matter of time and I'm fine with how things are progressing. Don't get me wrong - I would have been fine too, had this been done back in April - when it all started. Hahah..

My thoughts? All good things happen to those who wait..right? :o)

Har DU også trukket "Nitten"?!

Klik her.. :o)

The Progress...vol. 3..

Back on the scale - and this is the result:



Quite a leap from last weeks weigh-in, huh? ;o) I'm very happy..

Just spoke to my dietician at Hamlet. We both agreed on postponing the surgery to week 48. That gives me 3-5 weeks to lose the remaining 4.9 kilos and there's no stress. I'm SOOOOO unbelievably happy!! HAPPY-HAPPY-HAPPY!! *jumping up and down, clapping hands uncontrollably*

Within a couple of days I'll receive a letter with a date for both FU2 (Pre-op2) and date of surgery. Finally I have a specific date - I know when time's up..

I have an incredible feeling of relief inside and it is now time to get on with life!

Yeah, yeah, yeah....HU-AAAAHH....

Ikea - and all its glory - Part One..

Hey - just started assembling my new dresser - wish me luck!



...and the dresser is DONE!! Only six hours.. ;o)
And even more impressive - WHY did I go to the gym this morning?!?!

For sale... / Til salg...

Ja, så har jeg ryddet op i min TV-kommode og fundet nogle DVD'er, som jeg egentlig gerne vil sælge til spot pris. Der er også et par enkelte serier i blandt.

Serier:

CSI Las Vegas - Sæson 1 - 70 DKK
24 Timer - Sæson 1-2 / 80 DKK/sæson

Film:

Ringenes Herre - De to tårne - 50 DKK.
Lunefuld Lykke - 30 DKK.
Training Day - 30 DKK.
Hide and Seek - 30 DKK.
Far from Heaven - 30 DKK.

The Progress..vol. 2..

Here's a new ticker for y'all to follow - it needs to reach its end by week 44...Or depending on what my dietician and I decide when we speak again in a week or so.....


...and yes, I thought a snowman was fitting, since the weather is getting colder and before we know it, we'll be shopping for Christmas..

Next update will be during the coming week..

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Until further notice...

 

Èire

Finally - pictures from my week in Èire is here.. ;o)

Lunch with Barbara in Killarney..

Roadtrip to Kinsale - with everyting in between..

Even Cobra Tandoori and Jesus!

A night on the town - and I have no words for this..

No work, no play..... (10 pounds, Bélén - is all I'm saying....!!)

Looooooooong walks on beaches and in the woods of Cork....with a little bitchy Greyhound.. she will chase, catch you and drag you down... Trust me!!

...dodgy Irish parking and other stuff...and...

...you can't visit Èire and no visit a distillery..here's Jameson's in Middleton (near Cork)..and YES - I had a taste and bought a bottle..