My anti-obesity diary: Week Seven

My anti-obesity diary: Week Seven

A teenager from Darlington has been fitted with a gastric band, after reaching a weight of 24 stone.

Nineteen year old Abigail Bryan, a DJ by trade, first applied for the procedure at the age of just 13.

Doctors have warned that the procedure is not a miracle cure for obesity, but Abigail believes it is the only solution for her.

Seven weeks after the band was fitted Abigail is worried that a new operation may ruin her plans for December.

Week Seven

I was really looking forward to getting my band filled so that I would start losing weight quicker.

I went to the hospital and they inserted a four inch needle into my chest to try and fill the band... but couldn't get into it.

After two attempts it was hurting so much that they stopped, I could actually feel the needle scraping my ribs.

Abi, week seven, at her nan's house

The nurse said she thought the port which holds the band was twisted on it's side or had turned over altogether.

I must admit that as soon as I got home from the original operation I thought the port stuck out a lot and when I lay down at night I could see it sticking out of my chest.

I just thought that was probably normal and I didn't want the hospital to think I was just moaning about nothing by ringing them to ask about it.

They've said I have to have a mini operation to turn it back around.

I'm not looking forward to being cut open and having it moved, then sewn back into position under local anaesthetic, but if that's what it takes to reach my target weight I have no choice.

Fitness games

Typical daily menu Breakfast: Two crispy rolls of starch free bread or crispbreads and one slice of grilled lean bacon Lunch: Jacket potato and tuna with a little mayonnaise, but no butter Dinner: Boil in the bag fish in sauce with broccoli, carrots and instant mashed potato, again without butter Drinks: Coffee with semi skimmed milk and sweeteners; fresh orange juice. Lots of water Treats: Quavers or something around 90 calories but never crisps or nuts. Low fat yogurts.

On the good side my nan bought me a games console this week with fitness games on it, we've had a lot of fun trying it out and it's very addictive so I've been going on it everyday so far.

It weighs you and tells you your BMI and sets goals for you to achieve.

My mother and I are quite competitive so we keep trying to beat each others scores and that gives us the motivation to keep going on it. It's a lot easier than going to a gym and a lot less embarrassing.

I haven't put any weight on this week and I'm starting to find clothes that didn't fit me before, it's like getting a whole new wardrobe again.

My Nan paid a lot of money to get me a pink custom designed hoodie with "DJ Baby Bear" on the back in crystals and headphones on the front, it has never fit me before because it was the biggest size they sold at the time so she bought it for when I lost weight.

I wear it a lot to work now and people ask me where I got it from all the time.

New diet

I've had people asking what on earth do I eat after the operation because I can't eat bread, pasta or rice, although the dietician did say I could eat pasta and rice this week but only if it is firm, if it is soggy it could block the band and then I'd be in real trouble and have to go to hospital to have the blockage removed.

Abi in the hoodie her nan bought for her to slim in to

I can't eat stringy vegetables for that reason either like string beans or cabbage and I can't drink with meals because that just washes the food down through the band, so I can only drink 15 minutes before a meal and 30 minutes afterwards.

I did try eating breakfast cereal but when I read the packets they are full of sugar, so we don't buy them anymore.

The problem is I am tempted to eat more as time goes on because I get more hungry, so the portions get larger but when the band is filled that will stop again. I do get bored with the food though and sometimes I even skip meals because of that.

The dietician keeps telling me to add variety to my diet but it's hard when there's so many things you can't eat.

So now I'm waiting to hear when this operation is going to take place and just praying it's not in December because that's the biggest month of the year for a DJ.

I have a lot of work booked in but if that's when it is I'll have to have it done and get back to work as soon as possible afterwards.