I'm back!

I haven't posted for ages due to a number of 'technical difficulties'. 
First my elderly computer got poorly, which meant my lovely husband had to spend a great deal of time sorting it out so it can last probably only another few months :(  I had planned to do some posts in my lunch breaks at work but then my car got very poorly (expensively so).  This meant that my hours at work were a little tight due to sharing a car for a few days.  It was a slightly stressful time so I did what I'm good at - EATING!!!

I have made some very good choices though so although I don't think I've lost any weight I am hoping that I have stayed the same. 

Some of my good choices have been:
- signing up to the Fresh Start programme
- joining a gym (only did that today so I haven't actually been yet)
- going to a Pilates class
- reducing my coffee intake (I don't have anything against coffee - I just like it REALLY sweet)
- eating more fruit and veg
- trying not to eat after 9pm

They are all baby steps - but I am getting there slowly. 
The two most important things I've done are:
1 - getting a LOT of support to help me stay on track  
2 - starting to write down everything I eat (and how I felt and where I was)

I've got a Fresh Start meeting tomorrow and will be going to an exercise class at the gym too, so will post again after (if I have any energy left).

Sweet Dreams
Fairy Princess Mummy

Any progress?

I am aware that I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks and am now in week three of my journey!

I also completely forgot to post my stats (a bit silly as this is supposed to be about me tracking my progress - or non-progress!)
So here they are
Weight - 73.6kg
BMI - 28
Dress Size - 14

I have not lost any weight and am struggling to get my head in gear so I have gathered a 'toolkit' (Mostly developed from other peoples experiences and knowledge) and I have a plan.
My plan is to get in to my healthy BMI range which means losing about 14kg. 
My tools

• Weighing scales - to weigh myself every Saturday morning
• Tape measure - to keep track of my measurements
• Pedometer - cos I don't walk enough
• Water bottle - to help me drink my two litres a day
• Food diary - this is the one I'm using: http://www.personal-nutrition-guide.com/support-files/food_mood_journal.pdf
• A good friend - my lovely (and glam) friend G has agreed to be my buddy.
• A lovely husband who cooks
• 2 active kids (with the occasional help from their active cousin)
• A blog! - extra accountability

I also created an inspiration picture which includes my reasons for wanting to be healthy including:
- being a good role model for the girls
- having more strength and energy
- to fit in to the dress I was wearing when my husband proposed
- to be able to wear my wedding ring again (I had to stop wearing it when I was about 7 months pregnant with baby monkey and have not been able to wear it alongside my engagement ring since)

Tracking systems
I love a sticker so am using a Change4Life poster and tiger cub has her own too
I also have a weight loss graph on my wall and in my diary.

I also realised I needed even more accountability and help to change the way I see some food so have signed up for a 'Fresh Start' programme run by the Kent Community Health Trust.

Hopefully I will see some changes soon!

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Getting started

So today was officially the first day of week 1 and was fairly typical of how my 'new beginings' start!

We started of today well - with me and the girls doing exercise.  I did a great Pilates session while the girls did a kids exercise class which they loved and didn't want to leave. 


Any exercise class which involves balloons has got to be good!

But food wise was not so great.  Luckily, I have already decided that Saturday is my 'free day' (see how good I am at justifying eating rubbish).  I am very aware that my diet has been punctuated by so much sugar, caffeine and processed food that to go completely cold turkey would make me crave some food more.  So my plan is to monitor my food 6 days a week and have one day where I can relax a little.  I am also planning on getting more support to help me change my mindset to help stop the snacking. 

My abs are starting to ache a little and the fizzy wine is calling!

Happy bank holiday weekend.

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Week 1 of my fit, healthy new life - Take 987

I have completely lost count of the number of times I've decided to lose weight and give up again within the week (or day, or hour).  It's amazing what you can convince yourself of when you are tired or hungry or celebrating or faced with cake.  Here are a few of my favourite arguments for eating:
- Anything with fruit in it (or fruit flavoured) counts towards your 5 a day.
- Latte is healthy as the calcium it provides helps your bones and cancels out the 3 sugars.
- Almond croissants are healthy as they contain healthy nuts.
- Broken biscuits are fine as all the calories have fallen out.
- Anything eaten between 10pm and 5am doesn't count. (No reason - it just doesn't!)
- Chocolate and champagne (or any fizzy wine really) are good for the soul and therefore healthy.

So you can see my problem (and the reason I feel like a giant sloth most of the time).
However I am determined to make a change and start to be a better role model for the girls.  The eldest (tiger cub) is growing fast and learning a lot about healthy food and exercise from us and at school and the baby monkey never seems to stop moving but can consume chocolate faster than anyone I have ever met (including me!).  It is so important that they have good role models who are not just teaching them the healthy way but also role model healthy behaviours - both emotionally and physically.

So right now I'm in the planning stage of my new adventure and gathering the tools which will make this a sustainable and slightly easier journey.  Any one got a  magic wand out there?  Mines broken!

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

The end of the journey

So, apologies to anyone who has been waiting for months for me to tell the end of my egg donation journey.  As soon as the process was over I had to focus on my essay and my portfolio - both of which seemed to take forever and have taken far, far longer to recover from than the egg donation!!

In my last post I was hoping that the next scan was to be my final one but it wasn't.  My eggs took a little longer to grow than usual which just meant that I was injecting for something like 14 days instead of 10.  I think this part was the most frustrating - this is far more down to me liking a plan rather than anything else (also I was using this time to procrastinate on my essay!). 

So the day came for me to go to Guys and give them my eggs (it seemed quite apropriate that this was happening around Easter time too).  My dad was amazing and came with me despite having quite a poorly leg only a few days before.  He was incredibly calming and it was lovely to spend that time with him.  When we arrived at Guys we only had a short wait before we could go through to the ward.   When I got on to the ward I got the most beautiful flowers and the sweetest card from the couple.  From the window of the ward we could see loads of London so dad distracted me by pointing out all the highlights.  Then came time to go for the process!

I was so nervous but the medical staff were fab!  It was strange as I walked in to the theatre which just looked like a doctors room - I think I was expecting lots of stainless steel but it was quite laid back.  Then they tried to put the canular in the back of my hand.  For most people this is a simple process but for some reason my hands don't like it and I forget that each time.  A lovely Australian nurse held my hand and teased me when I made girly squeaks!  The canular had to go inside my elbow and that bit was fine.  I thought that after jabbing myself a couple of times a day that the canular bit would be fine but I'm such a big girls blouse!  When they put the sedation in I thought it's going to take me ages to fall asleep - I'm not sleepy at all.  Literally the next thing I remember is waking up. 

The whole thing lasted less than an hour and seemed really simple. I felt a bit woozy when I came round but that only lasted about half an hour and by the time I had a couple of cups of tea and biscuits I felt fine.  My sister came to pick us up and take us back to my parents house.  That day I chilled and ate and went to bed really early (same time as the girls).  The next day I had some cramping and was careful not to pick up the girls so it was really useful being with mum and dad to look after them.  A couple of weeks later I had a really heavy period and my next period was a week or two later than it should have been but that makes sense if my body still had all those hormones running about it.

They managed to collect 10 eggs of which 2 were used within a week or two and I think 3 or 4 were frozen.

It has been really nice writing this post and remembering what a positive experience it was.  It is something I am so pleased I did as I met some really lovely people and have found the whole thing fascinating and rewarding.

So there is the end of the journey.  Sorry it took me so long to tell you.  I will hopefully e blogging a bit more again now (at least until I need to write my next essay)

Still scanning

So last time I posted I think I'd had two scans.  Since then I've had another two and a third one tomorrow (hopefully the final one).  My folicles are growing a little slower than is usual (but I seem to have quite a few of them).  This means the whole process has taken a few days longer than I expected but luckily I'm on holiday and my family are quite flexible and so supportive.  Hopefully egg collection day will be at the end of the week.  Also at my last scan they showed me my folicles on the screen - so fascinating!  They look rather similar to this:-











Since the begining of the weekend my tumy has felt quite bloated and a little tend at times.  A couple of days later it started to be quite painful when I gave myself the injections.  As I am a bear of very little brain I assumed these were connected!  The lovely nurse put me right though - The bloating does not affect how the injections feel.  However, as I was a bit hormonal and quite frankly a little 'over' jabbing myself in the tummy and therefore they were hurting!!  Weirdly since then they haven't hurt again (apart from when the cat made me jump mid jab!).  I think for a couple of days I lost track of what I was doing and since reminding myself of this it has become easier again. 

Anyway - I'm very aware that this isn't the most fluently written post as I am sleepy tired!  Just wanted to get it down in writing.  Will let you know how it progressses.

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx

Scanning

So I had the baseline scan Monday before last and a week later after starting the injections I had a second scan a week later.  My folicles are not growing as quickly as normal so they have doubled my dose of Gonal F.  I then had a third scan today which again showed that I have a good amount of folicles but they are still not big enough at the moment.  This means that I will probably go in for the final procedure after the Easter weekend.  Fingers crossed they grow a little more quickly. 

I have to say that the hormones have taken me a little by surprise and I have been a bit grumpy the last couple of days - nothing acup of tea and piece of cake won't solve I'm sure!!

Sweet dreams

Fairy Princess Mummy
xx