Appointment with the Dietitian.

I have been considering seeing a dietitian for some time now. I wanted to make sure I was eating correcting in regards to the exercise I was doing. Plus I thought it would be good to get an idea of an eating plan specifically for me.

The dietitian took time to hear what I currently eat and what exercise I do. I do an hour of exercise as soon as I get up during the week and 1 1/2 hours on Saturday and Sunday. Of course I told her of the weight I had lost over the past 2 1/2 years and my surgery in October.

The main changes the dietitian suggested for me was to eat more at breakfast. I needed to eat more cereal fibre and have more of my carbohydrates and proteins in the morning and for lunch. So, instead of the 2 weetbix and pears I was having, she suggested I have 3 weetbix, pears and a tablespoon of oat bran. One of my other breakfast choices is stewed apple and yoghurt. I was advised that this wasn't enough, and to add some natural muesli. I don't usually eat muesli, but I had put it on yoghurt in the past to get a bit of a crunch! Another breakfast I have is 1 egg scrambled on 1 piece of toast. Well this was increased to 1 egg and 1 egg white and have 2 pieces of toast.

Regarding lunch, I was to eat more proteins, and again a bigger serve of lunch, so that I would have a smaller tea. Lunches for me are usually home made soup or tuna and tomatoes or a salad sandwich. The dietitian encouraged me to have 2 pieces of bread at lunch if I haven't had the 2 pieces for toast in the morning.

For snacks, I could stick to the fruit I usually have. Other suggestions were a glass of no fat milk, nuts, dried fruit or if I have been baking low fat muffins. With the muffins, I was to add some oat bran also.

Regarding exercise, the dietitian threw me for a six when she said to add a 20 minute walk at the end of the day!! I have had people tell me to rest up a bit with my exercise, and she was the first to say "do more"!! I was taken a back and wondered if I really would do that.

Another suggestion was to have a mintie when I sit down at the end of the day to watch TV as we all know, when we have a mint taste in our mouth, we often don't feel like eating anything else. I sometimes cleaned my teeth for this effect.

The dietitian also asked if I would keep a Food and Exercise Diary.

Well, for the rest of the day after seeing the dietitian I pondered on if I would follow her recommendations or not. I decided I had paid my money to see her, so I might as well give it a go! I set out to be really disciplined for one week and then reassess it. I wanted to give it a decent go.

I started my new "regime" last Saturday. I have been having more for breakfast and lunch and a much smaller tea. I have replaced dessert with 20 minutes of exercise and I have kept the diary. I have followed it very tightly to her suggestions for the past 5 days. I retrieved the scales from the shed to see if I had any change on them. Well, I weighed myself on Sunday morning, and I weighed myself this morning. I have lost 2kg!!!! I couldn't believe it. I was feeling better and thought I noticed another change around my waist, but 2kg!!! The scales haven't been moving much at all lately, so this is a real bonus!

Throughout the last 2 1/2 years I have often experienced a big loss when I have changed my routine around. But I don't think I have had such a huge result since I first started my weight loss.

So, the dietitian did know what she was talking about after all!!! The hard work and discipline of the past 5 days have really paid off. I'm so pleased. I want to lose another 3 kg before surgery, so I am right on track for that.

So, now, of course I recommend a visit to a dietitian for anyone wanting a personalised plan or a challenge to their current routines!!!

What a jumper!!!!

My goodness!! That jumper is HUGE!! A friend knitted it for me in 2003. I loved it! It fit me comfortably but looking at the length now, I remember it only just covered my tummy!! I can't believe how low my tummy hung down! (No wonder I have a lot of extra skin now!!) I also look at my legs coming out under the jumper and can't believe that is the size of both my legs!! That used to be the size of just one leg!!!! I hadn't put on any of my old clothes before this, I have concentrated on trying on clothes that I am working towards fitting into. But this is a real confidence boost and a good reminder that I have come a long way and I have accomplished great things and I have changed quite a bit!!!! It has given me some extra stength to lose the 5kg more I want to get rid of before surgery!!