Just a hello

Hi everyone,

Its so nice to read about everyone's success stories at this time of year. It's traditionally a time for reflection and taking stock. How nice that we all feel so much better than this time last year?

I was feeling a bit down that I have not been doing so well. But while taking stock of the giant changes that have happened in my life this year I realised that for someone like me who doesn't like change I have done remarkably well to be this stable.

So far I have left my job of 10 years (major change), started a whole new job (very hard)and then done the whole new job thing again 10 weeks later! For me that is a huge amount of upheaval in a short amount of time. Oh and I had a gastric band.
And I am still sane, happy and 40lbs lighter. Who would have thought it?

The weight loss hasn't been what I would have hoped for but in all honesty I haven't given it the priority status it has deserved. Something I intend to rectify in the new year when things are more settled on the work front.

My first few weeks in my new job have been amazing. Everyone is really nice and welcoming. We have had lots of social events and freebies. It has been a totally different world for me. That is not always good as some of you will understand. I have sometimes felt like my comfort blanket has been ripped off me and burnt in front of my eyes.

My last job was in Automotive manufacturing so although it was new, the terminology was pretty much the same and the principles were the same too. But now I am in retail which is a whole new world. Every word they use is foreign to me. I cannot deny it is very daunting. Plus they do Everything in Excel, which is also quite new to me. I have used excel in the past but not to this extent. When someone who is very good with excel is showing you what to do it's quite hard to follow. But from experience I know I will get there in the end but I HATE BEING NEW!!!!!!!

Anyhoo I digress. What I am trying to say is that whatever your progress, be it 1lb lost or 100lb (well done!) we have all grown and made positive changes in the last year that we should be very proud of. Just look back at photos of last Christmas "shock".

I hope that everyone has a fantastic New Year. I hope that the amazing changes continue. And I hope that we will all continue to support one another because discovering blogging has probably been THE most positive change of 2010 for me.

Thank you everyone for your help, support and honesty.

Fantastic news.

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all well and warm. It has been snowing here for a week so of course the South East of England has ground to a halt. We have about 6inches where I live, which is quite a lot for us. I work 20 miles away and they had no snow! Go figure. So there was no point trying to blag a day off. To be honest the main roads were OK so my journey didn't suffer. In fact the roads were much quieter than usual because lots of people didn't go to work.


Anyway on to my fantastic news.
I got the job at Bare Escentuals!!!!!
Me,I did it, I got the most fantastic job. Yay me!

I had to give a weeks notice at my current job. Doesn't sound a lot but that's what they had in my contract. I left yesterday. It was quite sad really as I really liked the people I worked with and had just started to feel like I fit in. But the thought of my dream job helped me feel better.

So the new job is for an Inventory Coordinator. It will be schedules and stock control. Lots of spreadsheets and numbers (my mortal enemies) but once I know what to do I am sure it will be fine. News flash # I really suffer with lack of confidence # something other people do not see??? I must be a good actress. But they liked me enough to give me the job.

So what makes it a dream job? Well the starting salary is almost as much as my last job that I had for ten years, and 4k more than I was getting at the place I just left. After a qualifying period they offer full sick pay, full health care and an annual bonus of 10% of your salary plus a pension.

More importantly the product is make up, which I love and I get 50% of wholesale price!!!!! Suddenly I have a lot of "best friends".

More importantly they are a very supportive company who have a great feeling about them. I have already received a letter from the HR Director saying they are excited for me to join the team. You have to understand I have always worked in manufacturing and they are just interested in what you can do for them. This company seems excited in what I can bring but also how they can help me develop.

They have already sent me my intineray for next week which has 20 min meetings with everyone in the Company including two days working at Soho Square in London, meeting the QVC channel managers, all the Directors and a visit to the Covent Garden Boutique.

I can't tell you how excited I am. If ever a job came up that was everything I needed financially and emotionally then this is it. I thrive on encouragement. Just believe in me and I will rise to the challenge.

I am having my hair cut today and buying some new clothes so I can feel at my best when I meet everyone next week.

I have rambled on a bit I know. Did I mention I was excited?
On the Fiona = Debbie downer side, I am hoping I haven't built it up too much but only time will tell.

I promise I will keep you posted.
Oh and they have already sent me an invite to the Christmas party.


Stay safe and warm. Eat lots of healthy soup.

The amazing power of blogging.

Well here I was feeling like the worst bandster/blogger in the world and then I find there is a pattern and I am not alone!

I have spent any free time in the last couple of days catching up with blogs only to find that almost every one's weight loss has slowed down and stalled at some point and that almost everyone is blogging less. I can stop beating myself up now. (well just for a while, wouldn't want to break the habit of a lifetime)

Grace said it best when she said "When I blog, I am successful. When I don't, I am less successful." She is so right and So successful. One of the great things about blogging with fellow bandsters is to draw on the wealth of experience.

I am looking at the tickers of people banded at the same time as me and thinking I am not doing so well but I keep forgetting I have only had two fills since March. So its not too bad really. I have to think positively in order to get back on track.

I gave weight watchers a try but didn't do so well. I think its because given the choice, when I'm hungry I choose the unhealthy food that "slides" down rather than the healthy option that is hard work and painful. For example, last night I had well cooked chicken casserole but two bites in I was sick so I had the English equivalent to Cheetos for dinner! I need to get organised and make some healthy options.

I seem to be hungry all the time?
Anyway I am not going to whinge. I am going to try to have the attitude that every day is a new beginning.

On "new beginnings" I have an interview on Monday for a cosmetic company called Bare Escentuals. They are an American company who sell on line and on QVC. I am looking forward to the interview because there is no pressure as I already have a job. I really like the company mission statement and they sound like a good place to work so I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Happy Tuesday xxx

Not sure what to call this???

Forgive me bloggers, it's been seven weeks since my last blog.
It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride with more lows than highs but life goes on so here I am.

We had a period of time where both DH and I were out of work which was trying to say the least. I got very depressed and didn't even want to talk for a while. I won't even go into what that was like.

We are both working now but the change has been hard. DH has a job which is OK but nowhere near as much autonomy as his previous role and I have a job which is a lot less pay and responsibility. So not great for either of us. I find it hard to handle change so it's taken a while to settle in plus my boss makes me feel like a bitter disappointment. The other people in my department are OK. But it's only a twelve month contract so this time next year I will be looking again! Lets hope things pick up a bit before then.

Anywho the most important thing to happen recently is that my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy called Max. He was 10 weeks early so is still in special care but he is doing well. He weighed just over 3lb at birth and is now nearly 4lb but still suffering from jaundice. He didn't need a ventilator which was great news but he has stopped breathing a couple of times which is very scary for his parents. They are exhausted, bless them. So I have been visiting when I can but I have had a cold for the last week and had to stay away :-(
Can't wait to see him again soon.



Isn't he gorgeous?

On band news. I might as well not have one.
Next subject?

I will spend the next week trying to catch up with you all. Hope you are all doing well.

Take care x

Gilly's BYOC

1) You’re trapped on a desert island and you can bring only 3 of your favourite foods along. What do you bring?

Shephards pie (I love the beefy, mashed potato, cheesy yummyness of it. mmmm I could eat it right now if only the band would let me.

Full English breakfast. i.e eggs,bacon,sausage,baked beans, mushrooms,tomato's and bubble & squeak (thats mashed potato and left over greens fried!)

Ben & Jerry's phish food ice cream.

2) If you could meet any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

Who:Walt Disney. Why: I just love everything Disney
Who:Elvis, when he was hot! Why: He was hot! Plus I would tell him to lay off the drugs and cheeseburgers. I could introduce him to the band lol
Who:Ryan Reynolds Why: OMG have you seen him??????

3) What is your stripper name? (take the name of your first pet and the name of the street you grew up on)

Sandy Devons lol sounds like a holiday destination.

4) How old were you when you lost your virginity? Alternative question if you don’t want to answer this: What is your LEAST favourite part of your bod since losing weight? Your MOST favourite since losing weight?

Pass
tops of my legs, they look like pantyhose that need pulling up.
Smaller double chin.

5) Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a house that is supposedly haunted?

Don't hate me but I don't believe in life after death so that would include ghosts or evil spirits. But that does not mean ghost stories don't scare me. The human brain is very good at scaring its self. So I am not sure about staying in a spooky house. I would probably be more scared of real people and zombies. ha ha I have a thing about zombies.

6) What is your natural hair colour? If you dye it something completely different from what your momma gave ya, how come?

Dark brown. I now dye it dark brown to cover the grey but it's basically always been the same colour apart from my purple stage????

7) Boxers or briefs? Alternatively…bikinis or granny panties?

Boxers.
Bikinis.

8) If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? (Trilogies do not count as one movie, cheaterpantses!)

The colour purple. Its got everything. Laughs, tears, triumphs. I love it.

9) What is your guilty pleasure (feel free to go straight to the gutter with this one if the spirit moves you!)

property TV shows, home improvement shows especially Extreme make over! Travel
shows, colouring in, mid day naps (especially good when there's housework to be done) and butter!

10) How many pounds gone forever are you celebrating??

58 yippee.

Hi everyone,

Hope you all had a great weekend. I am trying to relish as much of the good weather before Autumn sets in this week :-(

I had my second fill on Friday. If you have read my post about my first fill you will know it was not an easy process.

I have the mid band as shown above.

So firstly I was dreading meeting the dietitian as she had told me I had to lose 8lb before this visit and I hadn't. But she wasn't there and the surgeon was very pleased with my slow but steady progress. But he tells me he is only going to put in half a ml as he wants me to learn with the band and not let the band do all the work! WTF I have 3ml and NO restriction.

They x-rayed the port which looked fine. He then remembered that I had the last fill laying down so I had to spin around on the x-ray bed. (quite fun really). So he asks me "long needle or short needle?" I thought "in for a penny, in for a pound" so I opted for the long needle. He starts poking around and immediately has problems. Even the nurse said she could hear him hitting metal??? It was uncomfortable but not too bad. Several pokes later he tells me that his registrar fitted my band and must have flitted my port backwards. He was getting quite frustrated but not angry (he is a lovely guy). Then he sighs and says I can't do the fill.




So at this point I stepped in and explained that every morning I wake up with my port resting on the front of my ribs, I have a little feel and then guide it back under my ribcage. I can actually hold the whole thing in my hand and feel the membrane that he needs to poke the needle into. I ask him to let me demonstrate. He says OK and I grab the port and get it into position. I am not missing out on this fill aaarrggghhh.

He smiled and said "the patient is always right, I should listen more often, thank you for your assistance." Then he takes the port from me and gets the needle in first time. I did ask him if it would be better to fill it up as its SO awkward to get to ;-) but he said no. So then they stand me up with the tube handing out and I have to wait for the little xray guy to give me the nod and then drink the chalky liquid while they time how long it takes to go through the band. The cool thing is that I get to watch all this too.

I drank the first lot and he says "you have no restriction at all." No shit Sherlock! so he puts in 1 ml. I drink the second lot and it goes through really quickly so he puts in another 1 ml. The next drink takes 26 seconds to pass through and he seems happy with that. He said he could make it tighter (yes please) but wants the weight loss to be a slow process as it is better that way. Really? Oh well he knows best. I want it all to drop off by Christmas but what do I know? Anyway he tells me he is struggling to keep up with the fills as he has so many patients so in future rather than schedule fills by date he will contact each patient by letter or email and they have to fill in a questionnaire to determine if they need a fill or not. Sounds OK to me. But it means I have no idea when my next fill will be.

I intend to make this fill count. I know I was complacent last time and took liberties with the band, eating the wrong food, snacking, and eating too much so this time I have to make it work. Given the government cutbacks that are imminent I really am grateful that I got the band when I did because I know for a fact I would not have been approved now. I do not have any health issues that meet the new criteria and a BMI of 50 is not enough to get you approved now. So when I feel like cheating I think of all the people that need a band and can't get one. I hope this will keep me on the straight and narrow.

I have been on liquids since Friday, graduating to mushie dinner yesterday evening and a yogurt this morning. I can certainly feel the restriction now. My port site was quite sore for a couple of days but seems better now. My main problem is remembering to sip rather than gulp. I have become used to drinking normally and its such a sudden change it's hard to remember but the band soon reminds me.

So I am looking forward to some good weight loss this month. I started this month at 235 which is the same weight that I started the summer melt down at so NOT good. That means I have lost nothing all summer. In reality I have gained and lost, back to the yo yo really. But I determined to get under 200lb by Christmas. I am hoping weight watchers will help keep me on track.

I can't believe September has come around so quickly. I can imagine how excited all you BOOBS are getting! I am looking forward to hearing about how much fun you had and putting pennies away to be able to make the next gathering.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week,
Much love x

Another weekend has flown by. And this was a Bank Holiday three day weekend too. It's funny how they still seem to go so quickly even though I do not have a job to go to tomorrow???
I do have an interview at 3pm tomorrow for a production planning job so fingers crossed I will get through the first stage at least.

I have been cramming up on my buzz words and will make sure I include them in my answers. I actually quite enjoy interviews it's just the constant fear of testing that gets to me. Tomorrow's interview is with two women, not too sure how I feel about that yet? I will let you know when it's over.

I went to the zoo yesterday with Marcus and we just had a wander round (no kids) which was nice and relaxing. We had pizza and pasta buffet for lunch. I managed 1 slice of pizza and two fork fulls of pasta but I was hungry again 2 and a half hours later and ended up eating pick & mix sweets. Not too many though.

We came home and had a twilight marathon. I had only seen the first one so we watched the next two films back to back. I can't see the attraction myself which I assume can mean only one thing. I'm OLD lol.
That said I would definately be team Jacob. I might be old but I'm not blind.

It is about this time of year like everyone else I am mourning the end of summer and any good weather is to be savoured like the last piece of a delicious dessert. It rained on and off yesterday so we came home from the zoo early but this morning the sun was shinning and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I think the very strong wind had blown them all away. Anyhoo I decided to cycle to my sister's which is about 5 miles away. I went out quite early so the traffic wasn't too bad. I really enjoyed it and when I am riding my bike I feel like a kid again. It's all I can do to stop myself sticking my legs out as I coast downhill.

I visited with her and gave her the shawl that our Mum made for my daughters when she was alive. She really appreciated it.
Then I wateched some TV with her and her partner. They were watching "man vs Food" which is a US show about giant burgers, BBQ's and half roasted pigs. My mouth was watering SO much but I thought "I would still only manage about one bite". It did look delicious though. Then I had to cycle home. In my mind if felt like a chore but once I was on my bike it was wonderful. So I cycled just over 10 miles in total this morning. I can sure feel it in my legs. My sister lives up a hill too!

This week coming is going to be pretty busy with the interview, weight watchers, the gym, Zumba and a fill on Friday.