Weight results - 14th Aug 2013

Start weight: 213.5 kg / 469.7 lb

Week 1 lost -2.9 kg

Week 2 lost -3.8 kg

Week 3 lost -3.4 kg
Week 4 gained +1.8 kg

Total in 4 weeks: -8.3 kg / 18.26 lb

Been a really weird week this past one, recovering has taken longer than I usually do and that is SO frustrating, being stuck in bed really makes me feel so miserable and useless, hate those feelings.

Also, hunger has been a real issue too this week, I can't eat a lot at one time so have been having lots of little snacks instead, all healthy and tracked, but my stomach has been doing lots of "tummy farts" as the kids call it, sounds hilarious but I just feel like, I could eat a horse but if you gave it to me, one bite and I'm full, sigh.

And of course, I still can't move around a lot, a bit of bed dancing but nothing major, hopefully this coming week I can do a lot more

Went to my local dr and she's delighted with the "floppy" look of my right leg, definitely can see where the fluid had come from, but looks like I'm already starting to fill up again which is disappointing.

Blood pressure is great, lungs clear, she's very happy with how I handled this last cellulitis episode and to continue now with the preventative antibiotics.  She also warned me she's going away in couple weeks, so I'm popping back into see her before she leaves so we can make sure I've gotten all my scripts for antibiotics, seretide and OxyContin so I don't run out while she's away and have to try and get some other doctor to give me the scripts.  I think she's gone for bout 3-4 weeks.

Well, that's about me done, will try and update more regularly lol oh got my mum's birthday at end of Aug and I've arranged for my brother in law to bring her down and we will all hopefully go out for dinner on that Sunday night cross fingers I'm well enough.

Oh another thing, Michael will be going up to Mum's next Tues to take her to the hospital, she's having surgery on her eyes, one next Tue, then the other next month, anyway, Michael will take her there and back home again, staying the night so he can then driven her to the specialist the next day for checkup.

So Toni & I will be home alone Tue, Wed :) woohoo party time lol.

Catch up plus Weight Results

Start weight: 213.5 kg / 469.7 lb

Week 1 lost -2.9 kg

Week 2 lost -3.8 kg

Week 3 lost -3.4 kg

Total in 3 weeks: -10.1 kg / 22.2 lb

Started 17th July 2013 counting calories

Suffered cellulitis attack on Fri 26th Jul and upped my Keflex tabs to 4 tabs twice daily for next ten days, going back to 2 tabs twice daily on morning Tue 6th Aug

I continued counting and recording foods during the last couple weeks even though I was sick and I barely ate much at all the first week but am slowly eating more now and have to keep an eye on making sure I eat regularly plus drink a lot more than I currently am, that's a big problem for me to work on.

Exercise has been a complete no no for me, in fact it's been 24/7 bed rest, only getting up to go to the bathroom and back to bed, so that's helped a lot in regards to fluid in my legs especially the right one which had a major flare up with size, pain, redness and heat the first week or so after I got sick, but that too is coming down nicely.

I have slowly started moving my legs around more while in bed prob yesterday and today? Just have to know my limits and not push, well, not much anyway lol.

Just a quick update to let you all know that I am being strong as I can, staying on track, recording and being accountable and feeling a little better each day.

Home

It's been quite a while old faithful friend since I've last been here and updated, but here I am

I've missed updating actually and I keep meaning to pop back but ended up gasp posting mostly on the dreaded Facebook, I know I know and to be truthful, I do miss just putting it on here all my thoughts, feelings etc but I guess I let myself get all worried about how people perceived me, how I saw myself and my failures in weight loss, exercise etc and I "thought" that everyone saw through me and saw all my weaknesses and gave up on me as I now realised I had given up on me.

So I had to really think about what I wanted from my blog, what I needed to do to get what I needed and to be honest, truthful committed and open in what I write and most of all, do this for me and only then will blogging be once again a place of comfort, serenity and safety.

There you go :)  

I'm home.

5th June - Wednesday - Weigh Day

Early start to this freezing morning, couldn't sleep so ended up sitting up in bed with my iPad and watched some show I taped last night.

Thanks to my Optus plan, I got last week a Optus TV Fetch bundle (Optus TV with Fetch is a high definition digital set top box that lets you record multiple channels simultaneously as well pause, rewind and record Live TV plus free 30 movies per month to choose from as well as paying extra for other packages, but we're sticking with the freebie stuff) and we put this in my room as it has to connect to my Internet which also means that any of the free movies I download is also free in regards to my Internet data usage which is great news, am currently downloading "the grunge" lol

Also Optus has an app for my ipad which controls the box too incl setting up all my program's to tape, I have a virtual remote control as well plus I can choose then play my taped shows all from bed with my iPad, brilliant!

Hehehe both Michael and Toni have chosen movies too so we are going to have movie nights in my room each week, cosy lol

Okies 7:30 am, I'm off to have my thyroxine plus my delivery from Lite n Easy is due too.

Back later today with updates

Weight Results: +200g gain | 208.7 kg

Not feeling the best tonight, I think I might have caught Toni's cold as she is very sniffly and congested and I feel the same

Damn, if I continue to feel like this overnight, I will have to cancel tomorrow's appointment at the lymphoedema clinic :(

Bed is calling me and I am so so tired, night all

4th June - Tuesday

Wow something good happened today, Michael and I worked out a schedule for the house cleaning etc including "allowing" me to help too which is a fantastic step forward for me - might sound weird but the kids have been fanatical in trying to stop me from doing things that end up making me sick, like cleaning the house etc and it is true that if I did something for an hour or so, I end up with my legs flaring up and having a cellulitis attack that lasted for days.

So I can do small things for short periods at time then I have to agree to rest and we all agreed that we would try this for next month and see how I go - woohoo so exciting

Quiet day otherwise, ringing up for quotes and it looks like we need to actually buy a new air conditioner as its going to cost the same to repair as it will be to buy, so we are now looking at different brands plus getting quotes to install and boy is that expensive!

But it is fun looking I have to admit :)

Gym didn't make it there today as I just wanted to get this air con stuff out of the way and by the afternoon I was buggered so went back to bed to rest.

Tafe is also hard at the moment but I am loving it and this semester is nearly over so need to pull my finger out.

Two photos above, top one is my Lite n Easy Steak & Mushroom Pie which was delicious and very tasty.

The second photo was of my cat who had decided to sneak up and jump up on my bed and fall asleep at my feet lol then the kids covered him up and he still stayed asleep :)

Well, not much else to say so going to sign out for today :)

3rd June - Monday

An up and down day today, topped off with our air conditioner in the lounge room no longer heating, cooling is fine but a lot of noise and no heat which looks like the compressor has given up the ghost according to the gentleman who came out this afternoon

He thinks it will cost more than the unit is worth to try and fix but I am getting some quotes before accepting that and looking at buying a new one plus the exorbitant installation cost, and of course it is the beginning of winter this happens lol sigh, luckily my unit in the bedroom works like a gem and to be sure, we had it serviced and cleaned while the guy was here, just to be sure.

Unfortunately with my illnesses we need to have pretty stable temps in the house so we do need to come to a decision pretty quick as to a) what we can afford and b) when we can afford it

All this after I just got the money together to register our car including two new tyres before being passed for rego argh so now we are struggling big time again to come up with well for us it's a huge amount of money (over $1500 for unit and installation) but still, I love challenges and I can do this :)

Sigh 

Anyway, today I had the Lite n Easy tomato soup with ciabatta toast for lunch and it was so nice, loved it!

Beautiful blue skies here again even though it was cold, was toasty warm in my room with the blinds wide opened, front door shut and the sun just warming the room, nice.

2nd June - Sunday

HBeen a wet, windy weekend and quite cold and to make matters worse, the air conditioner in the lounge room is not heating up, just a lot of noise but no heat, so tomorrow I will call and get some quotes on servicing / repairing that unit as well as servicing the one in my bedroom, due to my lymphoedema, I can't afford to get too cold or too hot so the air conditioners are a MUST in both rooms.

Toni's boyfriend has stayed over since Friday so the house has been full of noise, laughter and lots of teasing :) Nice sitting back and feeling content.

But I am going through my stages of frustration and anger about the way my house is being neglected and chores not being done like promised by my older son, just upsets me that if things were done each day, there wouldn't be such an issue as there seems to be?  He just can't seem to "get it" and I can't keep asking Toni to do them as well as her own chores plus Tafe.... AND she seems to be doing the bulk work in looking after me too which technically is his job as that is what he gets paid to do and stay at home.  And believe me, I have tried to tell him he doesn't have to be my carer, he can get out, get a job, move out even, I would be ok with a paid carer outside of the family but he keeps saying he wants to be here, wants to be my carer etc

Having said all that though, I am grateful the kids do the best they can, we are very close and I couldn't imagine being without them

It's just some times, I'd like to have my house in the condition I'd like it :)

Onto other things, it's day 4 of this week's Lite n Easy and had some really nice meals today example, breakfast was 2 poached eggs w ham on multigrain toast

I'm not counting points or calories etc, I'm just having Lite n Easy 1800 calories breakfast & lunch (& snacks) plan plus we make good nutritious filling dinners.

I am writing everything down though that I have just so I have some sort of accountability especially when I have to substitute items.

Love the Carman range of biscuits, bars etc like hmm Dark Chocolate Cranberry & Almond bars plus Muesli Biscuit Rounds - yummy to die for!  

1st June 2013 - Winter is here

After having actual Autumn weather, Winter has now hit hard, it's freezing, raining and actually feels like Winter which of course it is now duh LOL

Been away from the blogging world far too long this time, I've missed it, but just couldn't get my head back into here but I am going to make a valid attempt to update more often (hand on heart "I promise") LOL

But I have been keeping up with all the news etc on Facebook which has been good.

News happening in my neck of the woods?

Hmm finally got my wheelchair fixed to almost brand new after gosh 8 months?  Was ridiculous how long it took, thank goodness I could still use it though very gingerly and to be honest, I really didn't go out much just in case it broke completely while we were out and I got stuck somewhere, anyway, it's fixed now and I've been out a few times and it feels much more comfortable and easier to push with new tires etc.

Had an appointment with the lymphoedema clinic but disappointment there again, but giving it one more go on the 6th June cross fingers.

Weight wise, I have been weighing in each week with my kids as well, and been fluctuating up and down but not really moving too far in any direction which has been frustrating.

I am currently 208.5 kg (was 210.2 kg last week, so lost 1.7 kg woohoo) and have had a lot of trouble getting out of the 200's this time round, no matter what I do, the fluid in the legs just is uncontrollable and I have no idea what will happen from one day to the next which is playing with my mind a lot!

Oooh good news though in regards to cellulitis attacks, there have been none :)  No flareups, tho little hints that make me wonder if it's about to hit but then I go to sleep and when I wake up (normally shaking, fever, chills etc) I'm feeling tired but normal, so the Keflex I am on morning and night seem to be doing it's job as my preventative antibiotics

Plus I am on Oxycontin morning and night slow release tablets which have been a great help in managing pain, I have not had to have Endone for couple months either, which again is a blessing

Well, that's it for now, nothing dramatic really, told you I was boring :(  but unfortunately, that's me and my daily life, just struggling to get through the day with a smile on my face.

Fri 5th Mar

Another quiet wet day here, well, wet then hot then wet then hot sigh, typical day, can't make up it's mind :)

Rested most of the day as I had another bad night but that's ok, I snoozed on and off so that sorta helped me catch up on some sleep.

Feeling better than the last couple days though so that's good.

Didn't make it to gym either as I just didn't want to push it too much too early, so we'll see how I am come next Tuesday.

Donna, the meals come in little bags for each day and either in fridge or freezer, the dinners are prepared meals but this time round I'm enjoying home made meals with the kids but Lite n Easy's dinners are really nice and good portioned sizes too

MargieAnne, I did have a lot of allergies growing up to do with eczema and asthma eg: i was allergic to all dairy, eggs to name a few but mostly have outgrown them thank goodness as I love my eggs now LOL but can't stomach milk by itself as I never had it growing up so I can have skim milk in coffee etc but not by itself or in cereal etc.  Plus I am still deathly allergic to penicillin which is a total bummer as penicillin is the BEST antibiotic to use for lymphoedema.

In regards to getting nutrition etc from foods, my doctor is all over that and I am tested for everything and so far so good, including calcium levels / bone density etc which is terrific considering my minimal amount of milk I have lol but I am still critically deficient in Vit D and I have hypothyroidism as well as my usual conditions (asthma, deaf, short sighted, lymphoedema, Lipodermatosclerosis and Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) phew)

But, I'm alive, I'm fighting and I'm actually feeling good about things :)

Catch Up before regular resuming of posts LOL

Been a while since I've been on here (sad face) I just didn't feel up to doing much over the past few months, this year hasn't been the best so far health wise and that was frustrating and disappointing but hey them's the break unfortunately.

Anyway, let me see, where were we?

Ohh week before last I bought the Lite n Easy breakfast, lunch & dinners packages and found it a great help but was way out of my budget to do more than maybe twice a month but when I went and double checked the amount, found that if I got the 7 day breakfast & lunches instead, I could afford that each week and for dinners, the kids and I will just have normal portioned controlled healthy options ourselves which is a win win situation :)

So last week was just normal foods and this week I have started on the 7 day breakfast / lunches plan so we'll see how that goes :)

Weight wise

Date:              Kilos          Pounds         Losses

5-Mar	211.7	465.7
12-Mar	211.3	464.9	-0.4
19-Mar	207.0	455.4	-4.3
27-Mar	206.0	453.2	-1.0
3-Apr	205.6	452.3	-0.4

Total losses for 2013
-6.1 kg / -13.4 lb

Total losses overall (from heaviest 233.2 kg)
-38.4 kg / -84.5 lb
So, all in all, it's slowly coming off.

Health / Legs / Lymphoedema

That's another story, it's been tough, every few weeks I'm having another cellulitis attack which is increasingly harder and harder to deal with both physically and mentally, very draining and emotionally I'm a wreck!

I have got an appointment finally with the Lymphoedema Clinic at Westmead on 22nd April so that's a good thing and we'll see if they're able to help more now than they could in the past.

Wheelchair well, that's a bust in regards to getting it fixed, it's been since Oct 2012 and I'm STILL waiting for them to get the right parts ie wheels, arms, new seat etc, it's been 3 times stuff arrived and 3 times it's wrong sigh, so now they're talking end April / May ???? I mean thank goodness I can still use the chair (just) but the tyres are so smooth now, so bald it's slippery on wet surfaces and a little dangerous and harder to push, so not happy :(

Gym / Curves has also been a non event too as each week I am either sick in bed, or in bed recovering, never seems to end at moment, so I'm not stressing about it, just doing a little exercise here at home in bed, or in chair ie Just Dance 4 etc and that will have to do for now.

Study - what study?  Enough said.

Kids are fine :) Toni's back at Tafe and Michael is just here LOL - nah they've both been a terrific help and it's great having their support in all aspects.

In fact, they've been weighing in each week (along with our pets too LOL) it's become a real family event each week and actually that's the best part cause we're all looking out for each other in regards to eating healthily and making better choices :)

Ok, exhausted now, time to close computer and head back to bed, so hopefully now I've done this huge catch up, I can update more regularly hehe hmmm wonder if anyone is actually around now to read since I've been absent for a while LOL :) sigh oh well, till next time.

Fri Mar 15th 2013

Happy birthday to my gorgeous older sister Lynne, she would have been 51 this year, amazing and scary how fast this year has gone by, yet at times it seems that time is at a standstill or that I am somehow caught at the crossroads or precipice of I don't know what yet.

Slowly recovering from a pretty bad cellulitis attack that was a little, ok a lot scary in its intensity this time round, I'm actually typing this very slowly and with great precision as I am very doped up on pain meds :)

I am banned off computer and sitting up in chair for bout a week but had to pop in here via iPad and just post this entry.

Love you sis

Fri 8th Mar 2013

In memory

8th March 2012 was the day I lost my beautiful brave big sister Lynne Kelman.

Today tho was not a day to be miserable, instead Lynne, I wanted you to know how proud I am of your kids, Kate & Andrew. They have matured so much in this past year, they're caring, loving, cheeky and best of all, they remind me constantly of you, of how we were as kids growing up, you teasing me unmercifully, of the tricks you used to pull on me, the way you supported me and loved me unconditionally and the way you stood up for me both in school and in life.

I am in awe of John too, he's been a tower of strength not only for your kids, but for me and my kids too as well as Mum and all your friends. He's struggled of course and there's been tears, frustration and loneliness but he's always got a smile and a "she'll be right" attitude and is the first to offer a hand to anyone.

I want you to know too that mum has actually become closer to me and we have been able to talk about a lot of things that happened in the past and finally resolve quite a few of them and I know that would put a smile on your face.

We might have lost a wife, a sister, a mother, an aunty, a daughter and a friend, but the memories we all have of you Lynne, are priceless and will be with us forever.

I love you now and always and will remember you with a smile and a tear but most of all with love.

Thu 28th Feb

Rain, rain and more rain, still stinking hot though.

Been having some lovely online 3 am chats with my nephew's girlfriend Jess and I am so proud of her, she's working nights and in between doing things, she's popping online and checking up on me, such a sweetie and I have gotten to know her a lot better.  Currently she's also studying for Cert 4 in Disabilty.

Today's photo challenge was "upside down" and Toni decided to show off how flexible she is by hanging upside down on the arm chair lol very funny and great photo opportunity for me :). Thanks Toni!

Photo of the Day Challenge

"lose2liveAU"

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Wed 27th Feb 2013

Just a quickie post for now, its 5:30 am Wed morning and I still haven't been to sleep, since stopping Clindamycin on 26th and starting Keflex, my body is really  struggling, I'm exhausted, hot / cold, headache and legs are burning again and painful, but so far no actual cellulitis attack woohoo :). Just finding it impossible to sleep longer than 1/2 hr at a time if that, so for now, just resting with legs up till I just fall asleep.

Back later with some photos from my birthday night plus the photo of the day pictures

See my birthday slide show here 

Photo of the Day Challenge

"lose2liveAU"

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Mon 25th Feb - my birthday :)

Just a quick note for now and I'll be back later tonight with lots to say hopefully :)

Was a sad start to the day though as it hit me really hard early hours this morning that this time last year was the last perfect day I spent with my sister - we went up and spent the day / night with her for my birthday and she was sitting up in the lounge room, feisty, alert, talking, arguing even at some stages :) was a bittersweet happy memory which made me cry for quite a while this morning, remembering.

Sun 24th Feb 2013

Took a few photos today of clouds, most interesting as from one direction blue skies with wispy clouds, then from another direction stormy clouds, was fun to try and select the few I wanted for the photo a day challenge.

Anyway, went to the Dr's today and she agreed that with Michael's leg we need to get the Leg Ulcer clinic to have a look to either rule out an ulcer or come to some other diagnosis as at moment we are stumped.  So got the relevant paperwork filled out and I will post it tomorrow for them to get back to us with an appointment.

Me, well we had a long discussion too about what to do to either prevent future cellulitis attacks, learn how to minimise or at least lengthen the time in between attacks to help give me a break and to let my body heal.

So my current course antibiotics of Clindamycin ran out yesterday but she agreed that I can stay on them till Tues 26th so I can be well for my birthday tomorrow 25th lol then from 26th Feb - 12th Mar I'll be going on a low dose of Keflex antibiotics.

Goal is to NOT have another attack of cellulitis within that 14 days, after that I'll go back and see her and decide what I'm going to do then, ie stay on the low dose for longer period or come off completely and see how things go

Of course if I get sick within that 14 days then who knows :(

Woot tomorrow is my birthday :)

Photo of the Day Challenge

"lose2liveAU"

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Sat 23rd Feb 2013

Wet, wet, wet yep it's rained pretty much non stop today with some really windy heavy rain throughout as well.

Unfortunately looks like the rain and wind has damaged the roof of my temporary gazebo out the back yard so we'll probably end up taking it down for now and maybe later on we'll buy a replacement top and put it back again but for now, sorry doggies, its coming down.

Feel great apart from sore arms lol after yesterday's boxing session at gym though have to admit, I've been resting most of today, well it is sleepy weather too which doesn't help.

Today's photo of the day challenge was "word" so a photo of a word, title, graffiti etc and I chose from "The Stand" book / movie by Stephen King; as in I'm taking a "stand" for my life now, to get control back and I absolutely adore this book and movie and how they took a stand to better their lives

Photo of the Day Challenge

"lose2liveAU"

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Fri 22nd Feb 2013

Went to gym again today feeling much better about things since Mel my trainer and current owner had a few words to me, it's out of my hands, but she's confident if the person that's interested in buying goes ahead it will be a few months anyway and she's a member herself and Mel is confident that she will understand my unique situation, so today since it was my Boxing Day, was fantastic to really let go of all my frustrations and worries and just punch away.

Hehe love Mel's pose for my photo of the day challenge lol

Got home and after another long shower, I've basically rested the rest of the night hoping for no side effects and so far feeling great but very tired, so now I have had my tablets, I'm finishing typing this and then off to bed.

Photo of the Day Challenge

"lose2liveAU"

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Tue & Wed 19-20th Feb 2013

Highs and lows Tuesday and even though I had started writing this I actually did not feel up to finishing so decided to combine Tues and Wed.

Tue we went to gym first time in months and was a really good workout but when I arrived I was told that the gym was in process of being sold which could mean my arrangement I have with Mel the current owner and her staff will be stopped and since I'm not technically using the machines even though I still pay the same monthly fee as everyone else but I instead sit in my chair in the middle of circuit and do upper body exercises along with my weights that I provide and boxing, Mel or whoever is on stands in front of me and does the exercises with me or instructs / motivates me during the 30 mins that Toni is going around the circuit, during this time the instructor is also monitoring other members, answering phones etc and if she needs to go be with a new member she does, keeping an eye to make sure I'm doing the right exercises etc

They tell me they love doing this and helping me to get fit even though its not the traditional Curves circuit and now I'm scared / worried that the new owner will not allow this to continue which of course is their right

I don't want to have to stop :(

Photo of the Day Challenge

  "lose2liveAU"

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Mon 18th Feb 2013

Beautiful sunshine in the morning, stormy, lightning, rain and thunder in the afternoon - bliss :) 

Woke up as usual to have my 3.00 am tablets (or round about) and when I realised that today's Photo of the Day challenge was "something I don't like" it was a no brainer I had to take photos of my tablets - yep, I hate having them every 6 hours especially during the early hours of the morning, I struggle to get to sleep anyway, then having to wake up just to have these then it takes me FOREVER to get back to sleep again, it's just suckie :(

Oh before I forget, "happy birthday" to Jackie (Jaxx) hope you had a fantastic day and was thoroughly spoilt by hubbie and kids.

Me well, after enjoying the storm this afternoon, it got really hot and sticky again which meant closing doors and putting the air cond back on ... sigh.

Tonight off to lounge room for TV night with Toni-Maree, first My Kitchen Rules, then Masterchef that we will be taping then for me I watch The Block which I will be taping in my room - lol 3 shows all same time but I think we have it worked out LOL 

Can't wait for Biggest Loser to return plus Offspring and a few other shows my brain is not letting me remember at moment LOL

Got all my study stuff worked out between PC and iPad I think I have it covered and even if I'm stuck in bed I will be able to attend my online class on Wed using the iPad so that's good

Ok, I'm off to lounge room and if I don't get back on to add more, well, I'll publish this now just in case.
 

Photo of the Day Challenge

"lose2liveAU"

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