This may well be putting the cart before the horse, and I know I have a long road to go, but I have started thinking I would like to set my self a MASSIVE challenge to Celebrate achieving my target weight.
Something that not only would I never have been able to accomplish in my current state, but also something that most people may never get to do in their lifetime.
Obviously losing the amount of weight I need to lose is a MASSIVE challenge all on it's own and my target weight is years away, but I just really want to set myself a "Bucket List" worthy physical Challenge to do if I make it!
So over the last 2 days, I have mentioned it to a couple people, specifically saying, "I wonder if I could train to swim the English Channel?" Obviously most laughed at the idea, and some suggested alternates like doing an Iron Man or running the London Marathon. Thinking tonight I came up with Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro too.
I know its way to early to start thinking seriously about something like this, but is 1 of those 4 even realistic? So I thought I would pose the question in a in the form of a POLL on my blog (Top Right) and let you guys vote to either bring me back to reality, or guide me to 1 of the 4.
Some details:
1. Swim the English Channel. The English Channel is 34km (24mi) wide at the shortest point, from Dover to Cap Gris Nez and would take anywhere between 11 and 16 hours. Sea temp = 15°C. Risks: hypothermia, cramp, jellyfish, raw sewage, commercial ships, ferries, quick changing weather. Can rest, but can't touch a boat and have to exit the sea yourself to claim success.
2. Run the London Marathon. 42km (26mi) around the Thames, Blackheath to the Mall.
3. Do an Ironman Triathlon. 3.86km (2.4mi) Swim, 180km (112mi) Bike and 42km (26mi) Run, raced in that order and without a break. Strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race, between 7AM and Midnight. Mandatory swim cut off = 2 hours 20 minutes, Bike cut off time = 5:30 PM, and all finishers must complete their marathon by midnight.
4. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro. At 5895m, Mt Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak. 6-7 day trip walking an average of 6hr/15km a day, except for the summit day which is 14hrs/27km up and down.
5. Shut up, be realistic and just focus on losing the weight! The 4 previous options were the outrageous late night ravings of a FAT madman! :P (Choosing this requires you to post a more realistic physical challenge in the comments.)
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Swim and Salad and Blog
Went swimming again tonight. I felt like a good work out, so I tried to swim some fast lengths as opposed to the normal slow lengths.
I'm still not sure if it's better to do it slowly with no breaks and get more lengths done, or to swim faster, with breaks and less lengths..? But I think my heart enjoyed the work out tonight!
I got home feeling a little peckish, and did my usual "Open the fridge and wait for something to jump out and welcome me back" routine.....and I caught a glimpse of Mr Carrot in the veg drawer looking a little unloved. So I pulled him out and had a bite and then remembered a salad I made 1 night to go with my Fish dinner: Grated Carrot and Apple with a squeeze of Orange Juice! It's my own recipe and I can't vouch everyone will like it, but I love it, so I made myself a small bowl. Yum Yum!
As you may have noticed I had a little mess around with the layout of the blog too. I think it looks much better and fits together much better too. I spent about 20 minutes working out how to get a RSS feed to my Runkeeper Profile. I'll see tomorrow if it updates properly, but the RSS Feed hack I had to follow to get it working, seems to have done the trick. Now we have good visibility of the exercise I'm doing. :)
I'm still not sure if it's better to do it slowly with no breaks and get more lengths done, or to swim faster, with breaks and less lengths..? But I think my heart enjoyed the work out tonight!
I got home feeling a little peckish, and did my usual "Open the fridge and wait for something to jump out and welcome me back" routine.....and I caught a glimpse of Mr Carrot in the veg drawer looking a little unloved. So I pulled him out and had a bite and then remembered a salad I made 1 night to go with my Fish dinner: Grated Carrot and Apple with a squeeze of Orange Juice! It's my own recipe and I can't vouch everyone will like it, but I love it, so I made myself a small bowl. Yum Yum!
As you may have noticed I had a little mess around with the layout of the blog too. I think it looks much better and fits together much better too. I spent about 20 minutes working out how to get a RSS feed to my Runkeeper Profile. I'll see tomorrow if it updates properly, but the RSS Feed hack I had to follow to get it working, seems to have done the trick. Now we have good visibility of the exercise I'm doing. :)
Monday 28 March 2011
Week3 Pic vs Week8 Pic (2 Stone Difference)
I have had a couple friends asking wether I can tell the difference or not at the 2 Stone mark. I didn't think I could, and really 2 stone of the 14 I need to lose, isn't exactly much! But I showed a couple friends and they were adament that there was a difference. Now they got me believing there is a difference, so I thought I would post the photo I took in week 3 with the photo I took from the same laptop camera at roughtly the same distance, slight difference in lighting.
Karen thinks I should take a photo every week same position / distance / camera, and make a movie of it at the end to see how my face changes. I might give that a go, but I am rubbish at remembering to do stuff like this, so we will have to see how it goes.
Anyway, here are the 2 photos. First the Before:
And now in Week 8:
What do you guys think?
Karen thinks I should take a photo every week same position / distance / camera, and make a movie of it at the end to see how my face changes. I might give that a go, but I am rubbish at remembering to do stuff like this, so we will have to see how it goes.
Anyway, here are the 2 photos. First the Before:
Weigh-In Week 8
Week 8 is a bit more like it! 6 lbs loss!
Awards this week:
2 Stone Award eventually! 3rd week lucky!
After 2 bad weeks only losing 2 lb each, I'm back on the slimmer of the week!
And for the second month in a row (and only my second month on it) I won Slimmer of the Month!
That brings the total to 2 stone 5 pounds (15 KGs / 33 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 26 stone 8 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 11/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
Here's the Graph:
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
Week 6: 2 lbs
Week 7: 2 lbs
Week 8: 6 lbs
Mini target set as 2 lbs to get that 2 and a half Stone award!
1. Definitely more swimming that just the once from last week.
2. Walking is going up another notch. Im doing 600m with Tuesday and Thursday "Tempo" days - Basically Slow then fast then Slow finish. Or something liek that :P
3. 100% Food Optimise as always!
4. Still try get as many Super Speeds in each day as I can.
5. And Keep up the Focus and Positive attitude that's making this all sooo easy.
AND Last but not least, I really feel the need to Thank my LOVELY, CARING WIFE, who helps keep me motivated EVERY DAY. Cooks 90% of my Slimming world meals during the week, and Believes I can do this! I really wouldnt be doing this well without her! I love you Karen, and thank you very much!
Awards this week:
2 Stone Award eventually! 3rd week lucky!
After 2 bad weeks only losing 2 lb each, I'm back on the slimmer of the week!
And for the second month in a row (and only my second month on it) I won Slimmer of the Month!
That brings the total to 2 stone 5 pounds (15 KGs / 33 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 26 stone 8 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 11/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
Here's the Graph:
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
Week 6: 2 lbs
Week 7: 2 lbs
Week 8: 6 lbs
Mini target set as 2 lbs to get that 2 and a half Stone award!
1. Definitely more swimming that just the once from last week.
2. Walking is going up another notch. Im doing 600m with Tuesday and Thursday "Tempo" days - Basically Slow then fast then Slow finish. Or something liek that :P
3. 100% Food Optimise as always!
4. Still try get as many Super Speeds in each day as I can.
5. And Keep up the Focus and Positive attitude that's making this all sooo easy.
AND Last but not least, I really feel the need to Thank my LOVELY, CARING WIFE, who helps keep me motivated EVERY DAY. Cooks 90% of my Slimming world meals during the week, and Believes I can do this! I really wouldnt be doing this well without her! I love you Karen, and thank you very much!
Weigh-In Week 7
Week 7 brought me a loss yet another dissapointing 2 lbs!
That brings the total to 1 stone 13 pounds (12.2 KGs / 27 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 27 stone 0 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 18/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
Week 6: 2 lbs
Week 7: 2 lbs
Mini target set was only 1 lbs to get that 2 Stone award that has been eluding me the last 2 weeks!
Decided this week that I needed to get back to Swimming. The walking is great and its certainly accomplishing loads, and I don't intend to stop walking, but swimming will help a lot more in the weight-loss department!
That brings the total to 1 stone 13 pounds (12.2 KGs / 27 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 27 stone 0 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 18/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
Week 6: 2 lbs
Week 7: 2 lbs
Mini target set was only 1 lbs to get that 2 Stone award that has been eluding me the last 2 weeks!
Decided this week that I needed to get back to Swimming. The walking is great and its certainly accomplishing loads, and I don't intend to stop walking, but swimming will help a lot more in the weight-loss department!
Saturday 19 March 2011
Walking is going great!
This is kind of embarrassing to explain like this, but it was the highlight of my week "New Lifestyle"-wise.
A couple of months back, I really couldn't walk far at all, and the simplest little walks like to and fromt he doctor would be a huge effort. I would be huffing and buffing like made when I got there and by the time I got back my legs and/or back would be hurting, and I don't live very far from my doctor! the church is next door to the doctor, and I would never walk to church because by the time I got there I would have broken out in a sweat! Very very embarrassing, I know. But...
This is the 1 thing I am LOVING about the "diet" and the walking. I am becomign a normal person, slowly but surely! I can actually walk again without feeling like im dying! Walk to the doctor and back, no problem, walk to church and back...no problem. Every morning part of my conditioning I walk 500 meters. Now I know thats really isnt much. but trust me, that would have been an effort before. now, its easy.
Anyway, this week I had to get the car's light fixed while I was up in Leeds. The garage didn't take a card, and I had no cash on me, so I needed to get some cash from a ATM. The closest 1 was about a half a mile uphill into the city center. a few months ago, I would never have even considered to walk it. I would have left my phone with the garage and said Ill be back with t he cash and used the car to stop outside the bank. Not this week! While he was still fixing the lights, I walked into town, drew the cash and walked back, without the slightest back pain and no sore legs, not even out of breath!
It really is an embarassing level of fitness I have IMPROVED to, but it is an improvement, and it feels great! My focus of this "life style change" is shifting, from just losing weight, to WHY I'm losing weight, and also to getting fit! How did I let my body get like this? 17 years ago I would have walked for miles! I played Rugby 2 or 3 times a week, played Volleyball 3 or 4 times a week, even got up int he mornings to go play squash because it was the only time I could fit more sport in! Then played some kind of sport (atheletics, swimming, rugby, soccer, squash, tennis, gymnastics) in the afternoons as part of the degree (Human Movement Science) I was doing. I want to get to that sort of fitness again...or at least as close to it as possible!
It's cheesy to say.... But... "I FEEL ALIVE!"
A couple of months back, I really couldn't walk far at all, and the simplest little walks like to and fromt he doctor would be a huge effort. I would be huffing and buffing like made when I got there and by the time I got back my legs and/or back would be hurting, and I don't live very far from my doctor! the church is next door to the doctor, and I would never walk to church because by the time I got there I would have broken out in a sweat! Very very embarrassing, I know. But...
This is the 1 thing I am LOVING about the "diet" and the walking. I am becomign a normal person, slowly but surely! I can actually walk again without feeling like im dying! Walk to the doctor and back, no problem, walk to church and back...no problem. Every morning part of my conditioning I walk 500 meters. Now I know thats really isnt much. but trust me, that would have been an effort before. now, its easy.
Anyway, this week I had to get the car's light fixed while I was up in Leeds. The garage didn't take a card, and I had no cash on me, so I needed to get some cash from a ATM. The closest 1 was about a half a mile uphill into the city center. a few months ago, I would never have even considered to walk it. I would have left my phone with the garage and said Ill be back with t he cash and used the car to stop outside the bank. Not this week! While he was still fixing the lights, I walked into town, drew the cash and walked back, without the slightest back pain and no sore legs, not even out of breath!
It really is an embarassing level of fitness I have IMPROVED to, but it is an improvement, and it feels great! My focus of this "life style change" is shifting, from just losing weight, to WHY I'm losing weight, and also to getting fit! How did I let my body get like this? 17 years ago I would have walked for miles! I played Rugby 2 or 3 times a week, played Volleyball 3 or 4 times a week, even got up int he mornings to go play squash because it was the only time I could fit more sport in! Then played some kind of sport (atheletics, swimming, rugby, soccer, squash, tennis, gymnastics) in the afternoons as part of the degree (Human Movement Science) I was doing. I want to get to that sort of fitness again...or at least as close to it as possible!
It's cheesy to say.... But... "I FEEL ALIVE!"
Weigh-In Week 6
I know everyone is probably gonna say, these days will happen, you have to keep at it etc etc. And yes I know they will happen, and they will probably happen worse than this, but it doesn't change the fact that it is dissapointing!
But there were a couple things that made it EXTRA dissapointing too.
1. I really wanted to lose another 5 lbs this week. I set it as my mini target, and dispite "good reasons" to go out of Food Optimization, or to have a Syn Flexi Day, or Treat night or whatever you want to call it, I didn't.
2. Following on from point 1, It was Keenen's B-day Friday and in our family, that means Chinese take Away. Did I have any? No! I watched the whole family eat Chinese, while I made my Slimming World Lamb Roghan Josh. I didn't even mind it, I was quiet happy to stick to plan!
3. Again following point 2, It was Keenen's birthday and the whole family were tucking in to Chocolate cake. Sure I had some, but instead of a normal size slice, nevermind a Big slice, I had a tiny Syned up 28g slice! Loved it too.
4. This week I didn't swim, but I gave the walking 100%. Did that help? I'm getting fitter...sure it helped, but it didnt help the scales! :(
Anyway, enough of my WHINING! Here are the results:
Week 6 brought me a loss of 2 lbs! Lowest loss, 1 pound lower than my previous low.
That brings the total to 1 stone 11 pounds (11.4 KGs / 25 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 27 stone 2 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 11/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
Week 6: 2 lbs
I'm still aiming for that 2 stone award this week and set a mini target of 3 lbs.
The only good thing about this Weigh-In, was I didn't have to be embarrassed by winning Slimmer of the Week, and for the 5th week in a row stealing the fruit from all the other Slimmers in the club! :)
Unfortunately though, no other awards this week either.
I've not given up! The disappointment, made me a bit negative and slightly depressed. which effected my blogging (hehe) but I'm still Food Optimizing 100%, and still walking every morning. I've not pushed back like I thought I might the moment I got disappointed, I actually reacted the way everyone expected I would. Shelled up and sulked! :P hehe, But I'm back on the blog, have a couple other things to post about, and still focused and on plan! Keep watching this space!
But there were a couple things that made it EXTRA dissapointing too.
1. I really wanted to lose another 5 lbs this week. I set it as my mini target, and dispite "good reasons" to go out of Food Optimization, or to have a Syn Flexi Day, or Treat night or whatever you want to call it, I didn't.
2. Following on from point 1, It was Keenen's B-day Friday and in our family, that means Chinese take Away. Did I have any? No! I watched the whole family eat Chinese, while I made my Slimming World Lamb Roghan Josh. I didn't even mind it, I was quiet happy to stick to plan!
3. Again following point 2, It was Keenen's birthday and the whole family were tucking in to Chocolate cake. Sure I had some, but instead of a normal size slice, nevermind a Big slice, I had a tiny Syned up 28g slice! Loved it too.
4. This week I didn't swim, but I gave the walking 100%. Did that help? I'm getting fitter...sure it helped, but it didnt help the scales! :(
Anyway, enough of my WHINING! Here are the results:
Week 6 brought me a loss of 2 lbs! Lowest loss, 1 pound lower than my previous low.
That brings the total to 1 stone 11 pounds (11.4 KGs / 25 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 27 stone 2 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 11/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
Week 6: 2 lbs
I'm still aiming for that 2 stone award this week and set a mini target of 3 lbs.
The only good thing about this Weigh-In, was I didn't have to be embarrassed by winning Slimmer of the Week, and for the 5th week in a row stealing the fruit from all the other Slimmers in the club! :)
Unfortunately though, no other awards this week either.
I've not given up! The disappointment, made me a bit negative and slightly depressed. which effected my blogging (hehe) but I'm still Food Optimizing 100%, and still walking every morning. I've not pushed back like I thought I might the moment I got disappointed, I actually reacted the way everyone expected I would. Shelled up and sulked! :P hehe, But I'm back on the blog, have a couple other things to post about, and still focused and on plan! Keep watching this space!
Thursday 10 March 2011
Appetite update
Quick update.
Last night Nick from work recommended a Smoothie.
So I mixed 250ml semi skimmed milk with a fat free yogurt, banana, pear and apple in the blender, and it worked a treat! Thanx Nick! I had to count some Syns for the liquidized fruit, but it wasnt like I had used any syns yesterday anyway! :P
Instant energy, instantly felt much better.
Also today I tried a nice big fruit breakfast. And the rest of the day has gone smoothly! Back to basics....Breakfast is KING! Get that fruit in and the rest of the day falls into place!
Last night Nick from work recommended a Smoothie.
So I mixed 250ml semi skimmed milk with a fat free yogurt, banana, pear and apple in the blender, and it worked a treat! Thanx Nick! I had to count some Syns for the liquidized fruit, but it wasnt like I had used any syns yesterday anyway! :P
Instant energy, instantly felt much better.
Also today I tried a nice big fruit breakfast. And the rest of the day has gone smoothly! Back to basics....Breakfast is KING! Get that fruit in and the rest of the day falls into place!
Wednesday 9 March 2011
Lost Appetite! Anyone seen it?
I don't think this is good at all! My appetite is WAY WAY down. I hardly ever finish a the food I make anymore. And I am making less than I would have eaten even as recently as 2 weeks ago anyway!
Struggling to eat much fruit these days. I was eating 8 to 10 pieces of fruit a day. At the moment I'm lucky to eat 3 or 4!
Not snacking at all anymore. Can't remember when last I had a late night meal. (other than last night when i had a packet of crisps to try keep myself awake driving home last night!) If I do snack its an orange or apple.... not both and a banana like I was 2 weeks ago.
And to make matters worse...My legs seem to be swelling slightly again! ARRRGGHH Whats happening??!
The only thing I can think thats doing this to me is these stupid Anti Biotics. Since last Thursday, the day after i started on the Anti Biotics, I have had a massive decrease in appetite. I checked the side effects, but it says nothing about loss of appetite. Unfortunately if they are to blame, I start another 10 day course tomorrow!
I can only hope that eating less for now is good and that my body doesn't start storing food instead of burning it!
Would really love some feedback from anyone who has experienced the same thing, or any Doctors/Nutritionists in the house?
Struggling to eat much fruit these days. I was eating 8 to 10 pieces of fruit a day. At the moment I'm lucky to eat 3 or 4!
Not snacking at all anymore. Can't remember when last I had a late night meal. (other than last night when i had a packet of crisps to try keep myself awake driving home last night!) If I do snack its an orange or apple.... not both and a banana like I was 2 weeks ago.
And to make matters worse...My legs seem to be swelling slightly again! ARRRGGHH Whats happening??!
The only thing I can think thats doing this to me is these stupid Anti Biotics. Since last Thursday, the day after i started on the Anti Biotics, I have had a massive decrease in appetite. I checked the side effects, but it says nothing about loss of appetite. Unfortunately if they are to blame, I start another 10 day course tomorrow!
I can only hope that eating less for now is good and that my body doesn't start storing food instead of burning it!
Would really love some feedback from anyone who has experienced the same thing, or any Doctors/Nutritionists in the house?
Monday 7 March 2011
Weigh-In Week 5
Another good week! :) Week 5 brought me a loss of 5.5 lbs! Second highest loss, 1.5 lbs higher than last week.
That brings the total to 1 stone 9 pounds (10.4 KGs / 23 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 27 stone 4 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 04/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
I decided to set my Mini Target at another 5 lbs this week, which will get me to my 2 stone award next week Monday for Weigh-In.
Todays awards:
Got my 1.5 Stone award. That's the second week in a row I got a "Stone/Half Stone" award, and aiming for a 3rd week in a row for my 2 Stone award next week.
I Also won slimmer of the week. Thats the 4th week in a row I have won slimmer of the week, and I hope I'm not upsetting anyone in group. I actually think the slimmer of the week award is alittle unfair that it goes to the highest pounds lost instead of something like, highest % lost. I might be wrong, but I believe when you have 50% of your body weight to lose, u goign to lose it a lot quicker than someone who only has 10% of their weight to lose..? Though I am enjoying all the fruit I win and bring home every week!
It's obviously still going strong and I'm still very motivated. I feel so comfortable and happy and satisfied with the food I'm eating. I hardly ever crave unhealthy food. Still loving the Fruit, loving the Free Meals and LOVING how good its all feeling.
That brings the total to 1 stone 9 pounds (10.4 KGs / 23 pounds).
Started at 28 stone 13 pounds
Currently 27 stone 4 pounds
Short Term Target 26 stone 0 pounds (Should reach this by 04/04/2011)
Long Term Target 14 stone (hope to reach this by 01/02/2014)
The losses have gone as follows:
Week 1: 4.5 lbs
Week 2: 3 lbs
Week 3: 6 lbs
Week 4: 4 lbs
Week 5: 5.5 lbs
I decided to set my Mini Target at another 5 lbs this week, which will get me to my 2 stone award next week Monday for Weigh-In.
Todays awards:
Got my 1.5 Stone award. That's the second week in a row I got a "Stone/Half Stone" award, and aiming for a 3rd week in a row for my 2 Stone award next week.
I Also won slimmer of the week. Thats the 4th week in a row I have won slimmer of the week, and I hope I'm not upsetting anyone in group. I actually think the slimmer of the week award is alittle unfair that it goes to the highest pounds lost instead of something like, highest % lost. I might be wrong, but I believe when you have 50% of your body weight to lose, u goign to lose it a lot quicker than someone who only has 10% of their weight to lose..? Though I am enjoying all the fruit I win and bring home every week!
It's obviously still going strong and I'm still very motivated. I feel so comfortable and happy and satisfied with the food I'm eating. I hardly ever crave unhealthy food. Still loving the Fruit, loving the Free Meals and LOVING how good its all feeling.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Eating out
I love how easy it is to eat out on this diet if you jut think about what you eating! Last night was a colleague from work's leaving dinner, and we went out to this really nice restaurant in Leeds. After previous trips to a restuarnt while ont his diet, that went fairly well, I was confident I was goign to find something tasty, suitable and mostly Free! There we a lot of great sounding Creamy pasta's that I may have tried before, but I would guess the Syn's counts would have been crazy! There were some tempting Fish options, but the Fillet Steak was by far the most appealing, and easiest to Syn up since i didn't have to guess too much at the ingredients. Sure I'm risking some Syns on the preparation, but I'm trying to count what I can, and I eat so few syns every other day, 1 day a little risky for a great night out is worth it!
Succulent Medium Rare Fillet Steak = Free
Grilled Cherry Tomato's on the Vine = Free
EV Olive Oil Drizzled Soft New Potatoes = 2 Syns
Creamy Peppercorn Sauce = 3 Syns
Best Fillet Steak meal of your life = Priceless
hehe. Seriously though, so I used some syns on some fat in the olive oil the chef felt was necessary to drizzle on the new potatoes AFTER they were cooked, and a few more syns on a great creamy peppercorn sauce...But the steak was nice and lean and was unbelievably tender..."Melt in your mouth"!
Succulent Medium Rare Fillet Steak = Free
Grilled Cherry Tomato's on the Vine = Free
EV Olive Oil Drizzled Soft New Potatoes = 2 Syns
Creamy Peppercorn Sauce = 3 Syns
Best Fillet Steak meal of your life = Priceless
hehe. Seriously though, so I used some syns on some fat in the olive oil the chef felt was necessary to drizzle on the new potatoes AFTER they were cooked, and a few more syns on a great creamy peppercorn sauce...But the steak was nice and lean and was unbelievably tender..."Melt in your mouth"!
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Hospital today about my leg (Happy ending)
This morning I got a call from the doctor. Apparently, my blood tests they did on Friday came back with 2 alerts.
1) Uric Acid is slightly too high. This is basically gout. However, I'm not showing any physical symptoms and apparently Uric acid levels can increase when losing weight, so I'll avoid the foods the suggest to avoid, and hope that it goes down.
2) And more frighteningly, the D-dimer test (the main reason for the blood tests, to check for thrombosis) came back with slightly higher than normal reading. It does prove 100% The presence of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) because it can also be an indicator of infection, and some other things, but it does lead you to further testing to prove either way.
So firstly off to the doctor, so she can speak to me, then she sent me off to the hospital for a repeat of the blood tests, and more depending on results. Gave more blood, and had to wait around for the results...about 2 hours! :( Results were as high as Friday, which meant I was off to the DVT clinic for further assessment!
By this stage I was starting to panic, but also grateful that I had gone to get my leg seen to and not just jumped on a plane to South Africa!!
At the DVT it was a string of question, tests measurements, literally prodding and poking of my leg. The usual doctor squeezing as hard as they can and asking if it hurts... Let me squeeze you like that and see how you feel!!
Anyway, I failed all the tests for DVT except 1 which, gave me a negative score, meaning it's NOT DVT!! Phew!!
Further investigation and feeling of the red discolouration on my left shin, led the nurse to diagnose the high score on the D-dimer and the red discolouration as a skin infection called cellulitis (no fat jokes please :p). Treatable with an anti-biotic! Hopefully, thus means the suspected blood circulation problems are not actually the case, and DVT is not as high a risk, and I can soon get on a plane and fly home to see my family, especially my Dad! What a result!
Obviously DVT is always a risk for anyone on long haul flights, especially fatties like me, but it will be comforting to know that I don't have any other symptoms making the risk higher. I may even go with the doctors suggested injections she can give me before flying to further reduce the risk. Either way...this year, I'm heading home!!
1) Uric Acid is slightly too high. This is basically gout. However, I'm not showing any physical symptoms and apparently Uric acid levels can increase when losing weight, so I'll avoid the foods the suggest to avoid, and hope that it goes down.
2) And more frighteningly, the D-dimer test (the main reason for the blood tests, to check for thrombosis) came back with slightly higher than normal reading. It does prove 100% The presence of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) because it can also be an indicator of infection, and some other things, but it does lead you to further testing to prove either way.
So firstly off to the doctor, so she can speak to me, then she sent me off to the hospital for a repeat of the blood tests, and more depending on results. Gave more blood, and had to wait around for the results...about 2 hours! :( Results were as high as Friday, which meant I was off to the DVT clinic for further assessment!
By this stage I was starting to panic, but also grateful that I had gone to get my leg seen to and not just jumped on a plane to South Africa!!
At the DVT it was a string of question, tests measurements, literally prodding and poking of my leg. The usual doctor squeezing as hard as they can and asking if it hurts... Let me squeeze you like that and see how you feel!!
Anyway, I failed all the tests for DVT except 1 which, gave me a negative score, meaning it's NOT DVT!! Phew!!
Further investigation and feeling of the red discolouration on my left shin, led the nurse to diagnose the high score on the D-dimer and the red discolouration as a skin infection called cellulitis (no fat jokes please :p). Treatable with an anti-biotic! Hopefully, thus means the suspected blood circulation problems are not actually the case, and DVT is not as high a risk, and I can soon get on a plane and fly home to see my family, especially my Dad! What a result!
Obviously DVT is always a risk for anyone on long haul flights, especially fatties like me, but it will be comforting to know that I don't have any other symptoms making the risk higher. I may even go with the doctors suggested injections she can give me before flying to further reduce the risk. Either way...this year, I'm heading home!!
Bring on the exercise!
The exercise is going great. Swimming is getting more productive. Tonight I swam for an hour again and today was able to do 40 lengths alternating between crawl and breaststroke. I'm feeling great after too. Also keeping moving in the water during the breaks, either stretching, kicking or swimming on the spot.
On Steve Elliot's instructions (it's an order, I dare not say no! :p ), I have also started walking every day. It's a little weird since I'm only allowed to walk 200 meters a day. Obviously this is additional to any other walking I do, but the idea behind the short distance is that I will be easing my ligaments, joints, muscles, bones and back into the exercise. In the past, this much over weight, if I have tried to walk hard, fast and far, I have always ended up hurting 1 of these things. So even though it's only short distances, it's about getting it all ready for some better more productive cardio working exercise.
As part of this, and once again on Steve's instructions :p, I have downloaded a iPhone app: RunKeeper, and take my phone walking with me. Via GPS, it tracks how far I walk, how fast I walk, what heights I walk, how long I walk for, the calories I burn, and tracks where I walk on a map. Then posts it a website for all to see. I can share it on facebook and twitter, but I am going to try find a way to integrate it to this blog when I get some time.
Here is a link to the site if anyone is interested in seeing my progress so far, or is interested in using the app themselves:
http://runkeeper.com/user/duanedalldorf/profile
One day I'll be back on a volleyball court!!!
On Steve Elliot's instructions (it's an order, I dare not say no! :p ), I have also started walking every day. It's a little weird since I'm only allowed to walk 200 meters a day. Obviously this is additional to any other walking I do, but the idea behind the short distance is that I will be easing my ligaments, joints, muscles, bones and back into the exercise. In the past, this much over weight, if I have tried to walk hard, fast and far, I have always ended up hurting 1 of these things. So even though it's only short distances, it's about getting it all ready for some better more productive cardio working exercise.
As part of this, and once again on Steve's instructions :p, I have downloaded a iPhone app: RunKeeper, and take my phone walking with me. Via GPS, it tracks how far I walk, how fast I walk, what heights I walk, how long I walk for, the calories I burn, and tracks where I walk on a map. Then posts it a website for all to see. I can share it on facebook and twitter, but I am going to try find a way to integrate it to this blog when I get some time.
Here is a link to the site if anyone is interested in seeing my progress so far, or is interested in using the app themselves:
http://runkeeper.com/user/duanedalldorf/profile
One day I'll be back on a volleyball court!!!
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