50 Mile Charity Bike Ride

So a while ago, I set myself a goal of riding 50 miles in one day, and today the day arrived.

I set off just before 9am and did a easy 22 miles.

I was then joined by some friends of mine, who did a further 14 miles with me, this really did help me, as my this time, I was starting to ache.

I then took on the challenge of a further and final 14 miles, if I am totally honest, this was the hardest bit of the event and ride, not only because I was tired and worn out, but also because it was the last stretch on my own.

I didn't have anyone to push me the last stage and by this time, my legs and bum were hurting lol

However I just dug in deep, and pushed myself to the final mile, where I was met at the finish by my wife and my parents.

I was aiming to raise 350.00 but in the end, I think I will have raised over 600.00.The cause I was raising the money for is BOSPA - British Obesity Surgery Patients Association.

I would encourage anyone who has had weight loss surgery to set themselves a challenge to see how the surgery can help them turn there life around.

I am now thinking of my next challenege should be.

I would like to thank everyone that have sponsored me and everyone that has supported me in many different ways.

New Video of My Journey So Far

I thought I would post another video so any new comers could see just how life changing this surgery can be for people. If you are having surgery or have had it already, please come and join me on facebook. Click on the link and add me as a friend.

 http://www.facebook.com/GaryGBAlbone

 

Sports Relief Mile

So I signed up for the Mile a few months ago.

I arrived on a very foggy cold morning with the expectations of all these fit runners getting ready to whizz around me and leave me standing. We had the options of doing 1, 3 or 6 miles. I signed up for 1 mile.

  

As you can see I wore the WLS Support Group Shirt which did get a few looks.

So we set off, walking the mile, to my amazement we did this is just under 15 mins, so always up for a challenge, I opted to go for the 3 mile distance.

So here I am, jogging on my second lap of the field, and to be honest, I am not a good runner at all, but I did walk a lot of it, and it really felt good when I was over taking people.

Well on the third lap, I knew that was enough for me, so I walked a lot of it, and saved my energy for the last straight so I could jog to the finish.

  

So having crossed the finish line, and my wife and children waiting for me, I was the proudest person on the field.

I may not have been the fastest person, I may not have run the furthest distance, BUT I did do it, and have turned my life around, 

 

A great day was had by all, and I would encourage anyone of any shape and size to take part in a event like this, its a great way to make new friends and set yourself personal challenges.

11 Stone Down.

As some of you will know, I has now lost 11 Stone, with the aid of his gastric bypass.

So I thought it was only right to share some pictures of my journey with you to maybe help others that are taking the first step of there journey.

Are these mine!

So There was me grabbing a pair of jeans this morning in the dark and OMG, looks like I grabbed a pair of my old ones lol

For any pre oppers that might be reading this, its times like this when you actually realise that this surgery dies change your life in more ways than you care to realize.

These jeans were actually a smaller pair to what I use to wear and they are a 54" waist, and now I am down to a 38/40" waist and still losing.

If you are reading this and think it can't happen to you, then think again as I also though that and it really can and really will if you follow all the guidelines that are given to you.

11 Stone Gone!

I have now lost a staggering 11 stone since the beginning of my WLS journey.

I am  now 8 months post bypass and have lost 6 stone since my bypass operation in June 2011, however I had also lost 5 stone pre op, bringing my total to 11 Stone.

I still want to lose another 2 stone at least, and would ideally like to lose another 3.5 stone, but time will tell.

I now go to the gym at least 3 times a week and eat 3 regular set meals, always with protein requirement in mind, before I decide what to eat. I am very happy with my loss and can't thank the staff at L&D enough for giving me the chance to have my life back. I would also like to thank all the other members of the Cambs WLS Support Group, for being there in my darker days.

5 Months Post Op

So tomorrow is my anniversary for 5 months being post op.

I must start by saying the time has flown past.

I have generally has a easy ride in those 5 months, I can tolerate most foods, however Chicken is no longer my best friend, so I just try and stay clear of it.

I have been out for various meals, and have coped quite well. I have even learnt how to enjoy a glass of Rose with the meal now.

However I must say one glass of wine and I know I have had it lol

So for my weight loss: Since the beginning of my journey I have lost 9.2 Stone / 130 lbs / 59 Kg.

•  22" collar down to a 18", which is getting too big
• 64" waist down to a 40".
• 5XL T Shirt to a very loose 3XL

So now for a comparison picture or two.

  

   

Another video for you to watch.

The last few pictures is in this video were taken when I was 10 weeks post op, and 7.5 Stone lighter.

12 Weeks Post Op

Well generally feeling very good.

The weight is still coming off, although its slowed right down for me, it is still a steady loss.

The medication is still being taken.

Here a re a few recent pics of me.

  

My Life In Pictures

I have put this video together, to show you my life so far in pictures, I will be doing more videos as my journey changes.

My Operation

Well, here is my operation details for anyone that would like to read it, I have also included some pictures so you can see me in the different stages of the operation.

So it all started on Tuesday 21st June 2011, when we arrived at Luton and Dunstable hospital at approx 3.30 pm.

We were told to go to the Waiting List reception, where we received further instructions to go along to the Arrivals Lounge and we would be directed from there to our ward, where they should have a bed available for me.

Once we booked into the Arrivals Lounge, I was taken in a room, and had my blood pressure taken, which was all fine and then was told that there wasn't a bed available for me yet. So we decided to nip downstairs and grab a coffee from the shop.

When we returned to the arrivals lounge they said there was a bed available on ward 21, but it wasn't ready yet, so we sat and waited, then we were told a change of plan and I would be going up to 22, but again the bed wasn't ready yet so would I like to sit in the comfy chairs in the day surgery unit until my bed was made available.

After another 90 minutes passed, we where then told another change of plan, I would be back on 21 and would be told when the bed was ready.

About another half an hour passed, and was told the bed was ready. Much to my delight I had got a side ward, which meant I could just relax and enjoy the moment, so I took to the chair and started on my word search, and then was offered a coffee, and that was my night basically, no obs were taken and no one came to see me all night.

The next thing I knew was being woke up at 06.00 for my blood pressure to be taken etc, and then given a gown to wear. It was only at this sort of time, it had dawned on me, that today was my big day, still very excited by this thought, and with no nerves setting in, I dived in the shower, and then put my gown on.

At about 07.30 I was collected to go and walk to the theatre. That was a bizarre feeling, walking up to the theatre, but upon arrival we were told to sit in the waiting area.

At this point I was seen by a few different people to go over the final details and was told I would be going into theatre before 09:00.

At 08:15, my name was called, and the weirdest feeling ever of walking to the theatre and being asked to take my dressing gown and slippers off and sit on the table, you guessed it, this is the table they would be doing my operation on.

My last look at the clock in the theatre was just before 08:30, and at this point I was told to hold the oxygen mask to my face, funny oxygen lol

Within a few seconds, I couldn't keep my eyes open, the room, just didn't seem to be there, and my last thing I remember is when someone said to me, let go of the mask Gary, and put your hand down by your side, that is all I remember from the theatre.

The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery department, being told to keep my oxygen mask on, which I was naughty, I remember that I kept taking it off, and then my mouth was dry that I couldn't talk. I did ask for a drink but was told that I couldn't have one, but then was given a swab t wet my lips and mouth. When I could focus properly, I looked at the clock and it said 12.30.

They wanted to move me to HDU, but there wasn't a bed available so was stuck in recovery for ages, in fact two hours.

Eventually I was moved to HDU at 14:30 and they put me in a side room, all to myself again, this was great but with no TV or anything, I only had two blinds to look at all day. I have to say my nurse, Samantha was a star, and make me feel comfortable and made sure I have the morphine if I wanted to give myself any.

At this point, I felt very comfortable and didn't use the morphine. I felt so awake that I even text a few friends and my family to let them know I was OK.

About 18:00 Mr Jain, my surgeon popped in to see me, and said everything went extremely well and he was very pleased with the operation.

I stayed in that room all night looking forward to having a good nights sleep, however this wasn't meant to be, as they had a poorly patient in the room next to me, and was working on him most of the night with the lights on, not only that but my equipments alarms kept triggering, and then when I did drop off, the nurses woke me up to do the obs etc.

On the Thursday the surgeon saw me in the morning and said I would be moved to ward 22 when the bed was made available, I eventually got to the bed at 20:00, just in time to go to sleep, well that was unless I got woke up on the hour, every hour for my obs again.

Then Friday morning arrived, and Mr Jain came round at 08:00, and told me he was happy with me and would let me go home, so once again I showered, got dressed and got my wife to pick me up, and left the hospital about 13:00.

I would like to thank everyone at Luton and Dunstable for all there work and commitment to there job, but a special thanks must go to Mr Jain, Samatha my HDU nurse and also Susan, the sister on Ward 22.

Pre Op Assessment

Well, today saw me go back to Luton and Dunstable for my final assessment.

This included taking of some blood, an ECG, Blood Pressure checks and a medication check.

Also a long chat with a doctor going through my past medical history and what I can expect after my operation.

The doctor also started writing out a medicine chart for when I stay in hospital.

Preparing for my operation.

Well I have made a To Do list, and day on day, checking it to make sure there is nothing I need to do today.

I have already ordered in the toiletries etc which I am going to need while I am in hospital and I have made a list which is ever growing of the things I need to take to hospital with me, so all being well the time left will fly round and I will soon be laid up in a hospital bed.

Pre Op Diet

Well it will soon be time for me to start my Milk Diet for just two weeks, can't say I am looking forward to it, but I know its only for two weeks and then my life should hopefully change for the better so I know I can cope for two weeks.

Well its the last Sunday before I start my pre op diet, so I thought I would treat myself to a full english breakfast, however I did follow it up with a two mile walk and then a half an hour bike ride, so although I probably didnt burn off all those calories, I did burn off a good few of them.

Surgeon's Meeting

So I had my meeting with my surgeon on the 2nd June, to say I was nervous was a understatement. Not as I had put on weight since the last time I had seen him, as I knew I was far lighter than the last time.

So I got on the scales, only for the surgeon to be shocked at how much I had lost since last time, he told me that most people put on a few Kg's since there last visit to hospital, but I had lost another 10 Kg.

He then examined my tummy, and pressed a few times and said that he be happy to do my operation.

We then sat down and had a chat about the bypass procedure and what to expect and he also agreed to take my gallbladder out at the same time as that had been playing me up just recently.

He opened his diary, and saw that he had a cancellation for the 22nd June, and turned and asked me if I wanted that date as I had done so well on my weight loss.

So I snatched his hand off and then it suddenly dawned on me that I only had 3 weeks to go before my surgery.

He then asked me to see the dietician which I did who discussed the pre op diet (4 pints of semi skimmed milk a day), and the diet required after my operation.

In the end I left a happy bunny, if not a little shocked.

So the next blog you read will be me, probably sat in my hospital bed, waiting to go down to theatre.

Its a waiting game!

Just thought I would add to my blog while I'm waiting to see the surgeon in 3 days time.

I seem to be going up and down at the moment on my weight front, but in all, still in the right direction, as I have lost over 4 stone since the beginning of my weight loss journey.

I had set myself a personal goal of losing 5 stone before I see the surgeon, which I'm not going to achieve, but hey, I'm now looking on the positives rather than the negatives.

I now go out for a bike ride most nights, and can now walk 2 miles without any pain in my back so that must be a good thing.

I am now also publishing my food intake on a daily basis, mainly so others can see what sort of food I am having, but also so I can look back on it, in years to come and being able to reflect on it.

Also others have said they can see a vast difference in my pictures that I have posted, so again thats a positive step for me.

Well as I said its only 3 days till I see the surgeon and should hopefully get my surgery date, to say I'm nervous is actually a understatement, but I have set my heart on this and must go through with it for a brighter future.

I will post more updates after I have seen the surgeon.

Refeed Diet Stage

So the refeed diet is again two pints of milk a day together with one 400 cal main meal and two treats of 200 cal each.

This seems a delight to be able to eat after 4 weeks of no food, however it makes you focus your mind, on how many calories are in simple foods etc.

And then you start to realize why you have got as big as you have, when you work out the calories in one of your old sized meals.

A good tip which I was told is use a smaller plate size, so you can see the plate is full and also chew your food better. I tried to chew each mouthful up to 20 times, at first this was impossible, but now becomes second nature.

Now I'm waiting to see the surgeon on the 2nd June which is only a few days away. So I will update my blog after I have seen him.

Milk Diet

Well whose done this or are on it at the moment.

So for those that don't know what this is about, its something that Luton and Dunstable hospital do to show them that you are committed to the program and you can also handle a fluid only diet.

So for me it was 5 pints of semi skimmed milk a day together with one sugar free jelly and one oxo cube a day and not forgetting the all important multi vitamin tablet a day.

At first it is the hardest thing to do, knowing you are never going to eat again for four weeks apart from sugar free jelly.

The first couple of days is the hardest, I had no energy at all, a banging headache and a mouth that felt like the bottom of the bird cage.

The only tip I can give people is to drink plenty of water as well as the milk. You can add Crusha sugar free into the milk to flavour it if this helps you at all.

So Luton and Dunstable require you to lose 5% of your body weight in 4 weeks, upon my weight in, I managed to lose 7.3%.

I was delighted with this, I didnt care what I lost as long as I was over the 5% cut off point.

I then got put on 2 weeks of the refeed diet. See the next blog for full details.

How long have I been fat for?

Ok, thinking back I have been overweight since I was about 7 years old. It all started when I had my tonsils out. From my memory up to then, I was thin like every other child, and active, playing out, cycling etc.

From that day I have always battled with my weight.

I also remember in my teens, going to weight watchers with my mum, how embarrassing was that, going to a diet club at the age of about 17. Nether the less, I reached my goal and showed them all how to do it.

Then I put it all on and more. At the age of about 25 I suffered with depression and that knocked me for a bit, but again got through that.

At the age of 30, I realized I needed to do something, so I purchased a bike, went cycling every night and went on the good old WW again, and started shifting it again.

I then met up with my current wife a year or so later, and this is when I really started putting a lot of weight on, I know the reason behind this, basically too many takeaways, my job doesn't help as im on the road all day and my car turns left into fast food chains and petrol garages and a sandwich looks lonely without a packet of crisps and a few chocolate bars.

It hasn't helped that I had a back injury that left me numb from the waist down, and I was taken into hospital in October 2005, on my arrival they did a scan on me, and within the hour I was rushed into a ambulance and rushed over to Addenbrookes on blues and twos and operated on within the hour. I didn't know at the time, but I had two discs cutting into my spinal cord.

The professor told my then girlfriend (now my wife) that I had 50% chance of ever walking again, and I made a full recovery, so I am so stupid to have piled on the weight cause it does affect my back and cause me pain.

So again tried all the diets and have had no will power.

It was at this point my doctors suggested surgery. At first I was turned down, due to my BMI and no other known problems.

So my doctor suggested a sleep study and I was diagnosed with OSA. We then applied again and here I am, on the programme and soon to be having my surgery I hope.

I would just like to say I don't blame anyone for my weight gain apart from myself and I hope I haven't bored you with my story, but feel its important to share.