Drinking whilst eating for a WLS person

The following video by Rob Portinga from Former Fat Dudes explains this so well. I had the pleasure of meeting Rob in Las Vegas at the Weight Loss Surgery Meet & Greet. 

 

Day 3

Day 3 of Bike ownership and I have gotten out for a ride every day. I only started off with a short 2km ride to get a feel for it, and then the next day we did about a 3.5 km ride. 
Today however since I don't start work till midday I decided I was going to ride to the river path and then make my way to the bridge. I got there and it was about 3.5 km, so I decided to go on till I had done 5km and then  I turned around and came home. So in total today I rode 10 kms!!!!!!! It felt fantastic and I know it has be on a high for the rest of the day. Now to get ready for work and to get dinner in the crockpot so it is done when I get home.

Here is a picture of my bike. We spent ages getting the right bike....and I think it is wonderful. 

Dear Food

Last night as I went to bed I was reading Connie Stapleton's book Thriving - Triumph over Trauma, which is the fundraising book for the WSLFA. I am about two thirds of the way through and here I am 3 hrs after going to bed not being able to sleep as I have been 'editing' the following in my head. This is completely unedited and just how it tumbles out so please ignore spelling and grammar mistakes especially as it is 1am in the morning.

Dear Food, 

You and I have been best friends for such a long time. I used to (and sometimes still do) think that you have always been there for me and have never let me down. I used to think that I you tried to help me become friends with other people, but really they were only my friend so they could get to know you and that is what you wanted. You wanted me to feel let down when those friendships didn't work, or when I was hurt and lonely. That way, I would come back to you and wallow in self pity.  You are one of those friends who I need but who I know is bad for me. The trouble is I know that I need you........but on my terms, but how do I make you see that? You remind me of that childhood friend who when she came to my house we had to do things her way because she was the visitor, but when I went to her house then we did things her way as it was her house.

I hate the way that you always manage to pop into my head, sometimes you are the first thing on my mind and you manage to find a way to make me change my mind on how I want to be or what aspects of our friendship are acceptable. You seem to have a control over me and some days I am dazed under your spell and my intentions of choosing to hang out with the healthy version of you gets pushed to one side. 


You remind of the ad about how stopping drinking (leaving your mates at home). For me it is like I don't need "chippies food" or "chocolate food" or "processed food". I would however like to get to know "real food" and "healthy food', so can you please let me spend some time with them.

I know I still need to have a relationship with you to exist, but I am struggling to find how to put you in your place. It feels like sometimes you are my only friend. Sure I have friends online and I know people, but I don't feel connected to anyone. Now I am not sure if that is due to my relationship with you, but somehow I think that due to the hold you have over me I have trouble forming those other friendships........you somehow manage to draw me back it. 

 I actually don't remember a time in my life where I have ever had a good relationship with you. every day of my life growing up I was always around the not healthy versions of you. and I found ways to get more of that relationship. I even stole money to be able to buy more of you (even though I used to give most of it away to others in order to try and make friends with them).

The other thing I find amazing is that I believe you over everyone else in my life, even over health professionals who have tested my skin and blood and told me that I can't tolerate being in a friendship with "gluten food". I have even asked  people  to cut me open to give me tools that can help with my relationship with you but somehow you have managed to creep back in there inch by inch and take what some days feels like a stranglehold and others feels like a security blanket.

Well, this is the way it is.......THIS IS MY HOUSE, and I NEED to do this on MY terms. So Food, that means that things have to change. I need to take control of you. I am still working out what the terms of our relationship will be, but for now I need to spend time with "Real" and "Healthy Food" and I need to make other friends outside of our relationship......I know that means you will want to show your face (possibly unexpectedly).......but for now I need to put plans in place to deal with you. I need to build a normal relationship with you and not one based on fear and insecurities.


I am sure this will not be the last letter I have to write to you, but hopefully the next one will be explaining how pleased I am that our relationship is changing. 


Janine

Wow, some of that did not come out as I expected (or imagined when I was lying there trying not to get up to do this), but I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep until it was done. So to update everyone. I am still on the steroids, but the specialist is looking at putting me on a new one (not funded so need special authority) which is a non appetite stimulant and apparently non weight inducing one......My weight is up to 126.9 kgs (279 lbs) and I have put on 25.9 kgs (56.98lbs) since my lowest.

I am in the process of buying a bicycle to help with the exercise my body needs and as you can tell, I am struggling with the food. I need to update more, an online friend pointed out to me recently that I must be struggling as I have not updated. So here is to getting the regain off and re-establishing my relationship with food.
 

The rest of the WLSFA Conference and the Billboard Music Awards

So wow - this Vegas trip sure is being stretched out due to my lack of updates, what was less than a week has suddenly become over 2 months.......So I will speed things us as I really need to get to blogging about how I am doing and to keep myself motivated. 

So I will try and some up the rest of the conference in this post and in the next couple of days I will do the  final Vegas part and then Colorado.

So after the main day of the conference, we had the Gala Dinner, which turned out not so much of a gala dinner. We ended up getting our own dinner and rushed back to the event as I was told I was getting an award for having traveled the furthest distance. That didn't happen. Actually I was not really acknowledged officially. Sure some people knew there was someone from New Zealand, but as for htem "making a big deal about it" like they told me they were going to.....just didn't happen, so unfortunately alot of missed opportunities to connect with alot of people, simply as they didn't know who I was. 

Here is a couple of pics from the event. 

A couple of us headed up to one of the girls hotel rooms and we ended up chatting till about 1am. The thing about Vegas is that you hardly need to sleep.I am sure they put something in the hotel air conditioning to perk you up........it truly is a 24 hr city though......always something happening. Amelia had some of the largest strawberries I think I have ever seen.

So the next day was the final morning of the Meet & Greet and it was just breakfast, a photo and goodbyes were to be had. Unfortunately by the time I got to the buffet they had run out of breakfast. They decided to also do the photo an hour earlier than advertised so some people missed out and some of course had already left town. The photo only shows about 1/2 of the people who were actually there. They also didn't publicly give away the items I had taken over from Eatme to giveaway, I believe that they had an issue with the name of the company, although they didn't actually tell me that. So another let down really. All in all I don't think I would go back to the Meet & Greet, well certainly not for the event itself, but to catch up with some of the wonderful people I met.......absolutely. 

After the conference ended there was just enough time for a rest and then it was off to the Billboard Music Awards. We had to be seated by 4pm as it was live on television and due to the timezones it started at 5pm. We didn't get to see anyone famous up close and actually for most of it I watched through binoculars.....mind you the sound was soooooooooooo amazing, and I can say that I have seen some amazing stars live.....like, Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, The Wanted, Justin Beiber, Chris Brown, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry........was pretty amazing really. I would pay to get seats closer next time. 

After the awards I went out to dinner with some of the people still in town after the Meet & Greet. Man - The turkey I had so was succulent and tender. I wish we had turkey here more often and we knew how to prepare it. 


So next time I will move onto my last day in Las Vegas spent with amazing people.



 

The WLSFA Conference - Katie Jay and the vendors

Sorry for the lack of updates. I misplaced my journal that I had recorded details of my trip to Las Vegas in, but I just found it this week, so I can continue with summing up how things were on my trip. 

I was up to the main day and recapping the speakers. The other speaker I managed to catch up with was Katie Jay. It was so good to see her in Las Vegas. I managed to get some time with her the day before the conference began for a 1/2 hr catch up before racing off to dinner with some of the others.


Katie was on just after lunch, so the numbers to start with were quite, low, but people tricked in and I heard from others that they thought her talk was outstanding. 


Anyway, Katie was speaking about - "Playing the odds after Weight Loss Surgery"  and Why following your gut instincts can sabotage your success. Like always with Katie, I get so enthralled in what she is saying I forget to take notes, but I did manage to get some key points down. 

To give ourselves the best chance possible are having weight loss surgery we need to:

• Embrace Liminal Space, - get out of our comfort zones. We do not grow by staying where we are. 
• Be curious - Curiousity is the most powerful thing you own. 
• Dive Deep - Katie reminds us of the pearl divers who have to keep diving deeper and deeper to find the pearls.
• Get enough of the Right kind of support. - Stick with the stickers. 
• Have a safe person - whom you can share anything.
• 100% - We are precious 100% of the time. 

I know there was so much more that Katie shared in the very short 45 mins we had her for, and some I know she shared with us when she was here in New Zealand. 

There were quite a few vendors at the conference, although only 3 that really stood out to me while there. They were Bariatric Advantage who were amazing with samples they were giving away and the guys were super excited that BA is now being sold in New Zealand. If you are interested in checking out their products go their website.

Another company that really stood out to me was Bell Plantation a company that manufacture a powdered peanut butter and peanut butter chocolate spread which is so much healthier (85% less fat) and can be used in a huge variety of ways. They are really keen to get into the NZ market and gave me some samples to bring home, which our local support group have had. I do find it a little bitter, but would think it would be great in baking.

The last company that stood out to me was Slimpressions, which manufacture shapewear. They were so busy and are so open to new ideas. At the moment they are looking at developing some new ranges to help hold things in place.They often have big discount weekends so check out their FB Page for discount codes etc.

Main day at WLSFA Conference: - the first two speakers:

So the conference kicked off at 8am on the Saturday and I stopped by all of the Vendors and Exhibitors till 10am when the speakers started. I only ended up getting to see 3 of the speakers: Connie Stapleton, Cari de la Cruz  of course Katie Jay.

Each speaker only had 45 mins and no notes or anything were provided, so I have tried to get as much information written down as possible so I can share. 

So let's start with Connie Stapleton. She was discussion Addiction. Now she talked about the criteria for something to be an addiction, and after reading this list I can certainly see that food is definitely an addiction for me. 

The Addiction criteria was as follow: 

1. Too much or for too long
2. Desire to stop or cut down - the yo yo effect
3. Spending a lot of time to obtain food or recover from it
4. Important activities are given up because of food or obesity.
5. Have continued to use in spite of problems (health, mobility, diabetes etc)
6. Tolerance
7. Withdrawal

 Positive (yes) in 3 or more = a Dependance or Addiction. 


She also highlighted that there are a couple of reasons for addiction to any thing:

1. Biology - hereditary predisposition, Brain chemistry etc
2. Environment - Children learn what they live.....then they live what they learn. 

She also highlighted that the age at which is develop the addiction is basically the age that we get stuck at. For example, for me, I started rapidly gaining when I was 9 years old and reflecting on how I deal with food, I am like a 9 year old. 


She also talked about Addiction transfer and how this is where the game of whack a mole addiction can come into play. This is where we whack one mole (addiction) on the head with the mallet just as another mole (addiction) raises it's head. Before you know it you could have a whole range of moles all vying for attention. 


She stressed the need for obtaining support and also supporting others -
'Get support......and then give it away as this will re-enforce your commitment to yourself'

The second speaker Cari de la Cruz is the other 1/2 of Post Op and a Doc a partnership of Connie Stapleton and Cari de la Cruz.  

Cari's topic was Kicking it with Cari and how to get a Kick out of life. This presentation was in true Cari style and she got her message through with fun!!!!!!


She asked the following questions:

What keeps you from Kicking it into gear?

• Stress/Worry 
• Bad Habits
• Work/Money
• Kids/Family
• Injury/Exhaustion
• Gaining Weight
• Fear of regain
• Fear of Failure

She said to remember that LIFE is a 4 letter word sometimes but to get out there and make the most of it and if you have any of the above things you need to learn to Kick it to the Curb.

What keeps you from Kicking Butt?

• Stinking Thinking
• Saboteurs - don't always mean to , but might just say something like "oh you could just have a little right?"
• Jealous friends
• Bad/Old Habits
• Addiction

She says - you have to choose to Kick it to the Curb - to change your thinking. 
If you think it's too late...........it's never to late to use the TOOL.
If you are marinating in Self Pity  " Welcome Pity Party for one - your table is ready" you have to kick it in the pants. 

She reminded everyone about the Gotta do ems (Not Oughta do ems) that Connie Stapleton mentioned in her book Eat it Up.

1. Make consistently healthy food choices (protein first)
2. Maintain Portion control
3. Exercise Daily 
4. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, but not with meals
5. Eat Breakfast
6. Plan meals and follow the plans
7. Keep food and exercise journals
8. Get plenty of sleep 
9. Utilize a healthy support system 
10. Use group/Individual therapy. 

Cari reminded us that we need to live life on life's terms and that life comes at you fast and sometimes life is a 4 letter word and can be challenging.She said we may feel like we have been

• Kicked in the teeth
• Kicked in the gut
• Kicked while we are down

but life happens and we can't just Kick it under the carpet ....but we can give it a Kick Start!

Next time: Katie Jay and the vendors

Pawn stars, Ricks Restorations and day 1 of the WLSFA Conference

Up early and very excited as I was heading to the Pawn Stars shop. (A program on SkyTV). I had heard bad things about it - mainly being really small but it was bigger than I expected. The 'stars were out the back and apparently they don't come out to meet people unless it is just after filming. Alot of the items are ones from the show & they looked to be overpriced and they appear to have been sitting there for ages. I did buy a couple of souvenirs from there though and it was still fun looking around. 

From there we went to Ricks Restorations & the experience could not have been different. Rick Dale is one of the experts on the Pawn Stars show but then he got his own show which according to the History channel we won't be getting in NZ. 

So anyway, we were met by Brett and he gave us a full tour after explaining where we could could & couldn't take photos. They showed us items that they were working on for the upcoming show, and introduced us to all of the crew. after we bought some souvenirs he arranged to get the main 3 stars to come and sign autographs and take pictures. We even got to watch them filming a little bit of an upcoming episode while we were waiting. 

So cool - here are some pics from that. 

After that we (myself, Jeanne & Sean) met up with the rest of the family (Ian, Jessica, Aidan and Sylvia) and a couple of others at another hotel further away from the strip. It was great. After lunch we headed to Walmart & I got some more gifts and also some protein bars to bring home. 

Back to the hotel and then to get ready for the Meet & Greet opening night. A country hoedown with a great country music band. It was great music, but I didn't end up dancing. The dinner at the hoe down was a chilli and it was divine - a great way to have a protein rich meal. Definitely making it at home. 


I was a little disappointed with the Opening night of the Meet & Greet as it seemed that the MC just didn't pull it together and the organiser did not actually introduce me to the community like she had indicated she was going to. However I do remember how hard it is to remember everything you have told people and that everything just goes by in a blur. 


One of the cool things they had for a couple of hours was a professional photographer. So I got a photo of my roommate Rain and also Lynnda from Bariatrictv.com.

After the hoe-down Slyvia and I walked through Paris Hotel & Casino, which is amazing.It really feels like you are walking down a street outside......all the time you are in middle of a casino. 


Next time: the main day at the WLSFA Meet & Greet & Gala Dinner.








 

First full day in Vegas and meeting lifelong friends

I so forgot in my last post to post a picture of Ian, Jessica & Aidan who picked me up at the airport. I don't have one of them all together from that time, but will post one of the whole group of people who became my family while I was in Las Vegas. 

  

Me, Jessica & Aidan

 This is from left : Sean, Jeanne, Ian, Me, Jessica, Sylvia and of course little Aidan

So I woke up after my first full nights sleep - I had asked the guys to help keep me awake till at least 8pm so I got into the timezone as quick as possible, but honestly I don't think I got to sleep till around 10pm. I had been watching American Idol, but spoke to Si somewhere in the middle of it, and then went to sleep. Woke up a couple of times during the night, for the bathroom, but overall woke up very happy and healthy at around 6am - so about 8 hrs sleep. 

The plan was to go shopping on that day, mainly to find some cowboy boots for myself and anything else I found for family. Si's mum had given me a list of a few things she would really like if I could find them. But before I went shopping I met one of the most amazing women I will ever have the privilege of calling a friend. Her name is Janie and she has been involved int he wider WLS community for years. I have watched her videos and spoken with her on phone and Facebook for the last few years. Through her I have even met other New Zealanders sharing the same journey. 

You know when you meet people for the first time when you have had an online relationship with them, that sometimes that connection just isn't there. Nothing could be further from the truth with Janie. She arrived around 10am on the Thurs 17th and she couldn't check into her room until much later so both her and Sally (another fabulous lady from the WLS Community) stored their bags in my room. We ended up talking for about 2 hours and just connecting. 

Janie & Sally 

 Janie & Me

If you want to check out their You tube channels just click on their names here to follow the link. Missjaniehere(Janie) and Cabernetqueen (Sally)

So after catching up with these two for that couple of hours, I went shopping. Now to save money I wanted to uses the buses as much as possible, I asked security where the bus stop was and they say just at the beginning of the next block.....so I decided to walk it. Well someone should have told me that the blocks in Las Vegas are about 2km long and I needed to walk about 1.5 km.........it was 102 degress (39 in Celsius) at midday when I ventured out. I managed two hours of shopping and only went to two stores. A walgreens pharmacy for some essential supplies like bottled water and some things that Si's mum wanted. I also checked out the cowboy boots, but saw nothing I liked really and the prices were expensive. 

Headed back to the hotel and hung out with more WLS people. Janie & I had dinner of some chicken wings & then we were meant to hang out with one of the girls Vikki- whose birthday it was, but one of the guys who recently had heart surgery had a turn and was taken to hospital. A few of us (the family) decided to head down to Fremont Street to watch the lightshow- outstanding!!!!!!!!!!

 The light show

 Some of the signage

One of the more bizarre street performers (only in Vegas)

Got home to bed after 1am and my roommate Rain had arrived so we ended up chatting till about 2am - She is a Bariatric Support Leader and Certified Coach, and if you want you can check out her page here.  This is Rain and I at the final night of the conference.  

 

I guess the biggest thing I will actually take away from this conference is the friendships I made with all of these people (okay not the weird guy in Fremont street) and that no matter where in the world I am, they will always be in my heart. You guys made Vegas special for me.

Next time: Pawn stars, Ricks Restorations and day 1 of the WLSFA Conference.

Arriving in LA and onto Las Vegas

So I arrived in LA at 6:35am local time & my next flight wasn't until 12:25pm, so almost 6 hrs to waste. My agent thought we would need time to go through passport control, security & customs etc and had warmed me that it could take up to a couple of hrs, and then of course I would need to get to the right terminal etc.

I had heard so many people say that passport control was intimidating and that the officers would be quite rude but I had a wonderful young lady who was so pleasant. I was then through to pick up my bag and off to customs which they just asked about the food I had declared on my card (Timtams for a couple of people who had heard about Tim Tam Slams) and some other NZ goodies that I was posting onto an American girl for a friend back home. 
I then handed my suitcase over to the transfers desk and headed to the next terminal all by 7am, so could not believe the whole process only took 20 mins. 

I found terminal 4 no problems, I had come from terminal 5, although I was not expecting the level of security for the domestic flights and had to ditch my starbucks hot chocolate and water (doh). Got through security and had to do the whole body scan thing. It was just after 7am and everyone seemed to be ina need for coffee - the queues (oops - I should say lines apparently) were amazing..............

Terminal 4 has no decent food choices at all & is so expensive. I did find a free access point to Facebook so I updated that at one point. The thing that drove me nuts was they constantly changed the fate number of the flight. At first it was 48B then 45 then 42B & then finally at 47A. I did however meet a wonderful couple from Austin Texas who were taking the same flight as me after being rescheduled off an earlier flight. It was fabulous to have someone to talk to. She was amazing, she was almost 65 and she is a Mechanical Engineering professor and she knew lots about Wellington as she was going to go to a conference there a few years ago but it didn't work out. 

One thing that amazed me about LAX is all of the Spanish you hear. It is BEAUTIFUL, but what was really amazing was while waiting to be called to board the plane, I heard a familar sounding voice speaking Spanish.......I looked up in time to see Antonio Banderas & a 'minder' walking to a fate that was about to close. I imagine that the celebs sweep in at the last moment & take their seats in business/first class.

One of the worst things at LAX was about an hour in and I got the worst cramps in my legs. I could barely move and I managed to get myself to the cold tile flooring where I got my shoes off and just managed to stand still until it passed. I think people thought I was nuts.

The flight to Vegas was only about 50 mins long and in fact they didn't have time to serve the whole plane drinks. I managed to get a cat nap of about 20 mins in and it seemed to been enough to wake me up again. 

Landing at Vegas was bumpy (due to the warm air currents I think). I went through the gate not sure where to get my bags but followed the signs which led to high speed trains.......thankfully they took me to the baggage claim area and to where Ian & Jessica where picking me up. I noticed Ian straight away and we got my bags and headed into town. I see now why they have bell boy services - the hotels here are huge and you end up walking through the middle of the casino to get to your rooms. Better to give the bags to the bellboys to bring up to your room. Only costs a couple of bucks in tips.

This is one of the entrances to my hotel at night. 

 

So after getting settled, my room became a meeting point and at one point there was like 7 of us & 1 child. I had a hard time getting the right SIMCARD for my phone so I could make unlimited calls to the USA & landlines back in New Zealand as well as unlimited texting and data. I wish we had plans like this at home. I ended up having to buy a cheap phone ($17 - on top of plan) & swapped the SIM to my phone. Worked perfectly though and made it possible to call everyone I needed - especially when I got lost......LOL

Next time : First full day in Vegas and meeting some very special people who will always be in my heart. 

Recap - Day 1 of first ever trip overseas

So here we are- I have been back home just about a week and I think I have finally caught up with all of the family and the washing and the sleeping. So now it is time to do a recap of my trip. I wrote most of this as I went on the trip but will most likely edit and also add pics as I go. 

So here goes, 

Day 1 - May 16th  2012:

The plan was for Simon to drop me off but due to his back and needing to get back home I stayed at the apartment on my own on the Tuesday night, set the alarm for 3am and caught a cab to the airport.  Everything went smoothly with check in - although the attendant kept trying to get me to self checkin, but I couldn't as I was going on to LA on a different airline, instead of stopping in Sydney. 

Went through security & was pulled aside, which I was kinda expecting due to the medication I had, but what I was not expecting was the security guy asking me about a knife like ornament that showed on the x-ray. We pulled everything out of my cabin bac & we could not find anything. He x-rayed it again and it was still showing. We flipped my bag over and there was two small pockets that looked flat as a pancake. I opened the pocket and pulled out an antique Scottish dagger in a leather sheath. I can only assume it is one that Simon bought in Scotland or even Poland when he was there in 2003. They asked me what I wanted to do, and as the post office section of the airport was not yet open and Simon was back in Palmy by then I told them (Security) they could keep it. They were happy with that, told me I certainly had a story to tell on my first trip and I went through to the next section.

I had developed a head cold on the Monday before travelling and was feeling a little worse for wear. I bought some tissues and water to have on the plane to try and get rid of the damn thing. 

The first flight to Sydney was pretty uneventful after the dagger incident and I had a window view flying over Sydney but completed missed seeing anything relevant like the Harbour Bridge or the Opera House. I only had just under 40 mins at Sydney airport before boarding was called for the Delta flight to LA. 

For that flight I was sitting in the rear section of the plane at Row 46 and I had a centre aisle seat. There was no one in the seat next to me so I could spread out a little which was fantastic, although I was still a little cramped. I was not expecting to be so cold on the plane and I am still not sure if this is done to kill bugs (like my cold) or if is just the way it is being that high up. I had two blankets, was wearing 3 layers and I was freezing!!!!!!!!!!!! I will definitely be buying something warmer for the trip home.


The Gluten Free food on the plane was okay but like most airline/gluten free food was not fantastic. I tried watching TinTin but for some reason I got bored and stopped about 1/2 way. I then swapped over to watching another movie, with Justin Timberlake in it....Friends with Benefits, which was your typical romantic comedy really but passed the time. After that I tried to sleep and managed a good couple of solid hours before waking up and then dozing for the rest of the flight. 


I was aiming to get up every couple of hours to reduce any swelling of my feet etc & to keep good circulation. So I hovered near the back of the plane a bit and got to talk to the cabin crew a fair bit.One thing that stood out was this crew was mainly over 40 and a couple of them had been in their jobs for over 25 years. 


Next time: Arriving in LA and the flight through to Las Vegas....

Till then 

J