Diary of upimongo's balloon journey

[Upimongo]

Hi there,

My initial starting weight is 20 stone.

How much weight do you want to lose? 3 stone (as recommended by clinic..it's a start!)

-- What is the time-frame for reaching your target weight? 6 months

-- How do you want to accomplish your goal (what methods do you want to use)? gastric balloon, diary.

-- Who or what can support you in reaching your goal? Experiences of others, use of diary.

-- How realistic is your goal? Realistic as per feedback from clinic and other ballooners.

-- When will you start? today...though gastric balloon procedure is on Thursday.

I shall not be writing in the diary until my return on Saturday. I managed to arrange the procedure within 2 weeks and have spent the time psyching myself up for it. Actually writing a public diary is an extra motivator as I feel I need to take responsibility for my actions.

Let the journey begin

 

[Upimongo]

The journey continues

Arrived back from Poland with a balloon today. They put me under and I never felt a thing, though for the next 2 days felt uncomfortable...even to the stage of thinking about having it out!! Though when I questioned why I was there in the first place & the fact I could not do it myself, answered the question.

Did not have any vomiting, though felt close a couple of times, but I have noticed a lack of appetite and having to force something down me...makes a good change.

I'll weigh myself weekly on Thursdays...the game is afoot!

 

[Upimongo]

Day4 of ballooning

Had a mostly restful sleep, but woke up several times due to hiccups, tried several attempts but they eventually stopped

Still have lack of appetite, and in the amazing position off having to force food down...may it long continue!!

Had a small portion of my mother's dinner, it actually tasted fantastic as I chewed it numerous times rather than wolfing it down!

Actually mowed the lawn today....was knackered, but was good to get some exercise going, will start swimming next Thursday.

So far so good, until tommorrow..

 

[Upimongo]

Day5 of ballooning

Oh dear...the joys of has started today...boy do I feel rough! Taken medication but still not 100%. Also poor sleeping pattern due to nausea, hope it's only for the short term.

 

[Omega]

Sorry to hear about the nausea. Hope that you feel better soon.

Focus on how good you are going to feel when you weigh a bit less.

It can be worth taking measurements early in your journey. When you are thin people will ask what your measurements were and it might be nice to be able to brag about how many inches you have lost here and there...

I wish that I had taken measurements at or near the start...

 

[Upimongo]

Day6 of ballooning

Dear Omega, thanks for your reply, cheered me up. If this is what women go through when pregnant with morning sickness......fl**ing h*ck! If I could, I would have pulled that balloon out myself....but today I feel fantastic

Had a great night's sleep, never felt better since the procedure was done. Went for a walk, plan on going on my motorbike tomorrow, drinking plenty of fluids. Tomorrow is the end of my first week, so looking forward to the official weighing

Bring the next 6 months on

Oh yeah, the clinic took plenty of measurements....including some I never new existed

 

[Upimongo]

Day7 of ballooning

Well guys, here is day 7, tomorrow morning the big weigh in

Went for a 3hr motorbike ride, really enjoyed it! Brilliant to blow the dust webs off. Appetite still feels suppressed, but using a website that analysis what I've eaten and appears to suggest I cut back on my carbs.

I still feel great, especially after multi-coloured yawn Monday! I feel an improvement in my mental state, especially looking forward to trying a new wardrobe in march

Hope things are going well with you guys

 

[Upimongo]

Day8 of ballooning

Well folks, weigh day today....shock horror, appear to have lost just over 6 kg ...sounds like a healthy loss.....not!!

Went swimming, did 20 lengths doggy-paddling , felt a bit knackered. Mum made a darn fine soup, ate 2 small bowls, plan on getting a blender to aid digestion.

Still have a poor appetite.....nice.....! & pants getting a tad baggy.

Until tomorrow campers

 

[Upimongo]

Day9 of ballooning

Went out for a motorbike ride for 3hrs, amazing! Blarting it down stationary traffic

Appetite still not there, though I pigged out today and had 1300kcals Still have an underlying nausea feeling which is like a hardwire interlock compared to the software interlock of the brain (This is from my engineering days......ehh? )

Anyhow, mental state still improving, was a tad knackered from the swim, might try and walk first

Now to bed

 

[Upimongo]

Day10 of ballooning

Well, today started with the wonderful burps of rotten eggs Took some senna and eventually managed to crawl off the toilet sans burps!

Went out on the motorbike again, takes me back to being 17 again. I don't quite understand how my sisters thought that riding a motorbike aimlessly for hours was a complete waste of time...women..huh!

Had 2 small plates of soup and 4 plums & happy to say am feeling stuffed with an edge of nausea.

Back to work tomorrow on the night shift, should be interesting to see how my balloon and I shall cope.

Until then

 

[Upimongo]

Day11 of ballooning

Just got back from the joys of nightshift, piece of cake! The balloon never made itself felt, except for the essence of nausea which is still putting me off food

Staff noticed a weight loss, which helps to build up my self esteem

Am nodding off

So may your journeys be as hopeful as mine

 

[Upimongo]

Day12 of ballooning

Yet another night shift completed, 2 left

Still on track, my attitudes towards food are changing, no cravings noted. The effect of the balloon is helping me to equate food with nausea. Will this last the whole 6 months? What happens after the balloon is removed?

I'll find out and let you good readers know....(errr.....'yes please'....say the good readers)

One of the great things about night shift is savouring the morning knowing the majority of the working population are slaving away (sad chap!)

 

[Upimongo]

Day13 of ballooning

Actually managed to go for a 40min brisk walk before work, great evening, felt fantastic!

Still have no desire for binging, learning to eat as normal people do. Plan what I eat on a daily basis, had smoked herrings for breakfast, tasted real good. No problems from the balloon, except slight nausea when thinking about food.... Great!

I have started many, many diets were everything appears hunky dory during the first week....then fancy a beer or pizza, and I'm back on the slippery slope. Tomorrow it'll be 2 weeks since I started, and I have no desire for beer or pizza......(though I hope to find a cure for the beer!)

So take each day as it comes....I can now pull my pants down without undoing them....the police said they wont press charges.

 

[Omega]

Try not to think of it as another diet - but a new way of life. That way it is easier to continue those good new habits into the future. You dont want to go back to your old ways once you get to goal. We all know that leads to weight gain and being a yoyo...

It looks like things are going great for you.

Well done for walking. It was walking that opened the door to exercise for me too. I found wearing a pedometer for every step of the day really useful for getting me to become a much more active person. Little bits of extra walking can really add up to miles across the day and can really help us to control our weight both while losing and into the future...

 

[Upimongo]

Day14 of ballooning

Thanks for the note, Omega. You actually identified the crux of the problem. I keep thinking about diets as short periods of changes of eating habits, then reverting back to the old ways, leading to yo yo weight. I need to change my behaviour and thoughts towards food and the way I associate it with moods.

I'm going away next weekend for a motorbike meeting, previously it involved drinking large beers and stuffing myself with chips. I need to find out if I can change my attitude, and still enjoy my self without having to revert to drink....watch this space!

Weighed myself today, I do not appear to have lost anything and appear to hold steady. Normally I would have been disappointed with this and could have reverted back to type, but I feel fine about it knowing I lost 6kg the previous week, which seemed a lot.

So I start my 3rd week, still hint of nausea, but am beginning to believe I can achieve my goal!

Good luck to everyone,

 

[anna.banana]

Hi Upimungo,
Good on you for tackling your weight. I'd never heard of the 'balloon' method until on this forum, so am pretty amazed by it.

I think you are still having the same issues as anyone trying to lose weight, like what to do when socialising. The best I can come up with so far is having a plan. Ie you probably can't drink yet after the procedure? So that should make it easy to say no to beer, but you might need a strategy to not follow old habits when it comes to food? I try to not get into a situation where I'm really hungry when the bad food is available. What will your strategy be?

Good luck with the journey

Ana

 

[Upimongo]

Day15 of ballooning

Dear anna.banana, thanks for your support, I appreciate it. I must admit I never heard of the gastric balloon myself until very recently and used this forum to gleam more information about it..(Damm fine forum!)

In theory I can drink now, but do not fancy it, as my mood has improved and I begin to feel the benefits of the loose clothing! . Thanks for your suggestion re social situations, one advantage about the balloon for me is that when I see or smell food I feel slightly nauseous (....may it long last!).

My concern is after the balloon is out, as Omega said, it's about a new way of life. I saw a programme called 'extreme slimmers' I think. One chap lost 40stone by exercise and controlling what he ate, now he has to live each day with buying food just for that day, as he says if he bought a weeks shopping he would eat it in one sitting. So I'll have to re assess my relationship with food and drink, drink because it makes me want to binge.

Another advantage re the balloon is it's in place for 6 months, giving me time to psychologically prepare myself for the future. I must admit, using this diary and communicating with you guys is also a great help. Thanks!

 

[anna.banana]

That's so interesting about the guy buying his food every day. If I went to the shop every day I'd buy bad stuff thinking 'its just today' I won't do it tommorrow. I'm way better buying once a week. haha

It just shows how everyone needs to have a slightly dif strategy.

Ana

 

[Upimongo]

Day16 of ballooning

Hey anna.banana, I agree, each of us needs our own strategy Still doing ok, a bit tired but controlling my appetite! Still need to do more exercise. My sister visited and said she's noticed my weight loss....excellent

May the baggyness continue!

 

[Upimongo]

Day16 of ballooning

Well folks, another day, another few calories lost.....but have been feeling tired and have to ensure I drink and eat enough for my normal daily intake.

I've started to think about March, when my balloon will, alas, be removed....but I do feel I'm changing my behaviour and my relationship to food.

My brother is contacting me regularly, giving me support, bless him Had a chat with him about possibly changing my car for a convertible in March, as a goal to aim for!!.....(it's a man thing...honest!) Also my family will be my supporters and help me with maintaining my new found lifestyle....I'm a very lucky chap! I hope you guys are as fortunate, but at least we all have this forum!