UK Cathy

prayers offered up for you and your husband

A co-worker had lapband surgery and I enviously watched her progress. I researched in having it only the NHS (I'm in UK) but did not meet the criteria (needed BMI of at least 50 (mine was 47)and there were other hoops to jump through) so I looked at going private. My research led me to VSG, I found a surgeon in Czech Rep and went in April 12, very limited people know and as my weight came off slowly people did not get suspicious plus they could see me eating less and exercising. I love my sleeve.

Loving the house! We have nearly emptied all the boxes - not bad for less than 3 weeks. We are having terrible trouble with the internet though and no service for 2 days but it has just come on but so slow. They are coming to fix it 29/5. My 'baby' boy is 21 tomorrow and we are off to meet him for lunch. I would of liked to organise him a party but exams are looming and they are important plus his school friends are scattered over the country at the moment. I was going to do something for him in the summer break but he has only gone and got himself an internship in China. Through his university he has joined a program called Live, learn and intern in China, he will spend 2 weeks in HK on a business course then 7 weeks in Shanghai working for a company. He is so excited, especially as he was born in HK he feels that he is going home. Food wise I cannot seem to get on track but I have exercised this week. I have the coming week off work so I am hoping to wean myself off the carbs/sugar, perhaps I will have to go cold turkey. Wanda, good luck with the play, it sounds exciting, who is your audience? Your church, town state? It nice to able to get on the site and catch up on how people are doing. It's good to see people managing to fast again and I hope to join you soon.

Florinda, a beautiful picture - you look so happy. Sarah so sorry that you feel so bad about your friend and that her decision is affecting you, you have opened your heart and home to her and unfortunately she is the only person who can make the decision to get clean. We have limited internet access at the moment (thank you BT!), we thought it was all arranged prior to moving but BT had a different idea and they cannot reconnect us properly until 29 May, what we have is so slow and intermittent. I can only read now and then and rarely post. I cannot get a fast day going, those blasted carbs. I think I might have to do a couple of shake days and go through the withdrawal. I'm on half term holiday next week so I will try then.

Florinda, I love your story but even more I love the fact that you sound do happy, you have had a rough past year ( I think it is that long) so you deserve all the love and happiness you are getting.

I'm in the house! Surrounded by boxes but it is going to be good. Florinda good to hear from you, we have all been worried by your silence. I have not weighed for 2 weeks now and am worried, clothes feel a bit tight. I don't know which box the scales are in, I think I need to get back on program and get some fast days in. New house, new start and new me!

Go Coops!!! That's one of the things I like about being thinner, all my underwear matches, be it everyday sets or something much nicer, top and bottom always match these days. Staying with friends is OK but I can't wait to be in my own house. We move in on Tuesday and should get the key at 12 noon. Work have been very good in that they have given me a moving day (paid) which is great as I was scheduled for a 1-9 shift that day. I also don't work Wednesdays so I will have 2 free days to unpack boxes. Happy Mothers Day to all you lovely ladies. Hey Coops we should have got in on the act and told our children that as we have so many international friends that we were going to celebrate Mothers Day again today - well if the Queen can have 2 birthdays a year we can have 2 Mother's Days.

I'm sorry for your loss. As others have said the fact that you was able to be with your mum until the end and take care of her will be a great comfort to you in the future. At the moment you are feeling lost and raw and you must take care of yourself, even better let your lovely husband take care of you as I'm sure he wants to. Allow yourself to grieve, shout, scream laugh - whatever it takes. Sit and remember your mum and all the lovely things you did together, remember her words of wisdom and love. You are in my thoughts and prayers. XX

Lots of happiness from me! We have walked on the beach each day with the dog. We have an early start tomorrow as I'm working a 1-9 and must get back into the right county before then. Sue so glad you had a good night out and that the 'diet' is out of the vocab for today - tomorrow is soon enough, like me you are back to work tomorrow and it won't be too long until we get the 5:2 back in to our routine. Sarah, glad to hear that hubby is well, are you taking care of yourself too? I love this site and especially all you lovely people who give so much support.

Coops move into new house on 13 May.

Sarah, will keep your husband and you in my prayers as he goes through his surgery.

I love Call the Midwife too. It was on the TV on a Sunday night and it was light, nice viewing before all the stresses and strains of life and work on Monday.

5:2 has gone out if the widow for the next couple of weeks. The movers came yesterday and everything has gone except for what our buyers wanted. Exchange of contracts finally took place today, completion is tomorrow and then they can have the keys. Off to the seaside for four days ( holiday here in UK on Monday) then staying with friends for a week and then into the new house on 13 May, feeling excited about it all. I just need to keep the weight on an even keel.

Any of you guys seen the post about Susan and surgery in Mexico (sorry on ipad cannot post link). It is not long ago she was co- ordinating for surgery there. I wonder how long out she is from surgery, again on ipad cannot see statistics. She must be worried or in a bad way to come on here and diss surgery in Mexico.

Lovely afternoon with a lovely lady. Thank you Coops.

Game girl, can you please give the link again. Thanks.

Stressed out with the move, movers coming Wednesday but we haven't exchanged yet. I have been assured that everything will be OK. I have only done 1 5:2 day this week but that is better than non. Carb monster is still calling me. I am so looking forward to seeing Sue tomorrow, I don't know anyone else (in person) who has had WLS so it is going to be so nice just to talk naturally, this is because very few people know of my surgery so I am often on guard when speaking so that I don't let slip. It seems that we have been quiet on here recently, let's have a role call and a group hug!!

Paris looks like it was lots of fun.

Well ladies I have been watching and listening to you all while at the same time falling off the wagon. I have put on 4 lb and am very disappointed with myself. I know what has done the damage it is the carbs. I have not done a proper 5:2 week for at least 3 weeks and I feel very bloated. I have however cleared the carbs from the house and tomorrow I start over. I also have not completed mfp for a few weeks either. What started me off was my inability to get frozen raspberries! 3 shops and for 3 weeks I could not get any and as these are the basis of my fast day (together with Greek yoghurt) it threw me and sent me off track. Got some today though and battle begins again tomorrow. The move is proving more stressful than I thought. We hope yo move out 30 April and into new house on 13 May, in the meantime we will have a 4 day break by the coast followed by 9 days at a friends house. The only thing is they the move happens in 9 days time and we have not exchanged contracts yet. Here in the Uk it is a 2 stage process, exchange followed by completion and in some cases both processes happen on the same day. We should have exchanged a couple of weeks ago but our buyers had a blip with their mortgage application and they were away last week plus we have just had Easter weekend where nothing happens. The people we are buying off are nervous now as they want exchange to happen ASAP but we need the 10% deposit from our buyers so we can pay our 10% over. Offices/banks etc ate open as normal tomorrow so I hope we can get it sorted. In the meantime I have given away furniture, clothes, bedding etc and incurred expense by ordering some new things for the house so this transaction has to take place. One consolation is that our buyers go to the same church and they have been telling people they are buying our house so they do have the best of intentions. I need to keep calm. I have just had a 2 week break from work, I'm back in tomorrow and students are returning too, just settling students back in tomorrow and lessons start Wednesday. I'm really excited as I might be meeting up with Coops at the weekend - that will be so good Best wishes to all

Florinda, one thing I cannot give is any fashion advice, I feel I have a distinct lack of style. The blouse however sound gorgeous and you should post a pic for us to see.

Hour glass for me

Perhaps her throat is swollen from the breathing tube they put down for the op.

It could be the way you are cooking it, I find that the meat must be moist so maybe add a sauce or some gravy. If you are not far out from your op maybe used minced meat until your stomach can deal with something more dense. If eating chicken is bothering you, leave it for now and try again in a couple of weeks.

Banksy, is a street artist (google him), he appears in the night and puts his art on walls - usually it will have a message included in the picture. No one has officially seen him but there are rumours as to his identity. His art has become quite famous but obviously not in the USA. Well it is quite exciting for Cheltenham to have one.