Post-Christmas, and almost a year on......

I've had a wonderful Christmas. Lots of time spent with my lovely family and not a moment taken for granted.

As planned I lost a few pounds in the week preceding Christmas (I weighed 11st 3lbs on Christmas Eve) and I have indulged in refined carbohydrates over the festive period (weight this morning = 11st 6lbs). I will get back onto my high-protein low-carb regime on 1st Jan 2013 and follow my band rules to the letter for a few weeks. 

My band rules:

• No refined carbs.
• Focus meals around protein.
• Remember that dietary fat is not a bad thing (dietary sugar is!).
• Sensible portion size (I usually eat from the soup bowl pictured below).

The bowl I eat most of my meals from

• Only eat when actively hungry.
• Small bite of food, chew it well, swallow and WAIT for food to pass through the band.
• Eat MINDFULLY - always.
• Stop eating when no longer actively hungry (leave unneeded food in the bowl)
• Drink plenty of water.

Almost a year on from my band-op my body has changed a lot:

Inches lost:

• CHEST; from 48" to 40"                  =   8"
• RIBS; from 39" to 31.75"                 =  7.25"
• WAIST; from 40" to 27.5"               =  12.5"
• TUMMY; from 48" to 35"               =  13"
• HIPS; from 50" to 39.5"                  =  10.5"
• UPPER ARM; from 14" to 10.75"  =  3.25"
• THIGH; from 31" to 22.75"            =  8 .25"

            TOTAL INCHES LOST             =  62.75"

This New Year my resolution is to maintain my weight loss and to be more committed to exercise.  I've not been using my vibration plate much since the summer and I can certainly feel the difference in my muscle tone and general fitness. I've used the time off over Christmas to get back into the habit of using it. I can feel the benefit already :D. 

I also intend to appreciate every moment I get to spend with my Darling Mum. Time is so very precious. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas out there in cyber-world xx

Controlling emotional eating

In the past, like many overweight and obese people, I would often eat when I was not hungry. Infact, prior to being banded, I hardly ever ate because I was hungry. I rarely went without food long enough to physically become hungry. I craved food, I obsessed about food and I wanted food but not due to physical need (not very often at least). 

The experience of being banded has had the unexpected, but very welcome, result of my recognising and conquering my emotional eating habits. Interestingly I don't think I would have been able to address them pre-band because it is the experience if being banded that has enabled me to recognise how I used to use food. 

My emotional connection to food was at serious odds with the very basic rules of being banded, namely: 

• only eat when hungry;
• eat slowly and consciously;
• eat small portions, off a small plate;
• and stop eating when no longer hungry. 

None of the above allowed for emotional eating and, as a result, I became aware that I used to eat for reasons other than hunger. I read a book on emotional eating and that helped me to identify what my triggers are (mostly work stress, sadness and boredom).  

I learnt to chant the mantra "if the problem is not hunger the solution is not food" in my head whenever I felt a compulsion to eat.

Now when I feel the urge to reach for food when I am not physically hungry I address it thus:

Step one: if the problem is not hunger then what is it?

Step two: what would be a more appropriate response to the problem?


Ultimately I have had to come to terms with the fact that food can be a lovely distraction from stuff I don't want to do or think, can entertain me when I am bored, can comfort me when I am sad etc. BUT only temporarily and after I have eaten I am still overworked, sad, bored etc. but I have the additional problem of my having overeaten and that makes me feel bad (and physically I know the consequences that overeating have for me). 

I have to remain vigilant and sometimes resisting the urge to soothe my emotions with food is very, very difficult. But it's becoming easier and easier - practice makes perfect afterall..........