Just a run of the mill everyday kind of day. Nothing special, nothing spectacular just living my life in tea party portions.

A day running around playing with my gorgeous little man clocking up 8,000 steps along the way.

I am still a long way from where I want to be but I’m so proud of how far I have come!

I have also decided on my next weight related goals.  The next goal is 11kg away, followed by 29.5kg away, then 33.6kg away and then my final goal is 48.5kg away. It seems so far away when you look at the snap shot picture but it’s nothing when I look at how far I have already come.

So today was German day for my little guy at school. I channeled my inner German exchange past and baked from scratch traditional german pretzels.

They smelt amazing, looked amazing so I decided I stuff it, I don’t indulge on carby things very often and picked the smallest one and ate it. Tasted AMAZING……unfortunately Percy was not as impressed as I was and decided that the delicious pretzel had to exit the same way it entered! #vomittown

Ok ok Percy, I hear you loud and clear!

Yesterday my latest Zulily order arrived so today I decided it was time to debut another bargain dress. Feeling excited and feeling pretty and feeling in a massive amount of shock that this new dress that is a 2x, that’s right a 2x was almost baggy! Lots of compliments on my new dress and how everyone at work is so happy to see my evolution to happy, healthy and confident! And for someone who now has windsocks instead of boobs it was a nice compliments that I got told my boobs looked awesome today!

A quick 50 minute cardio session at the gym tonight knocking off 580 calories on the bike, stair master and espresso bike. Had a great chat with Anita (the PT who set up my intro program at the gym) and amongst the swearing at the bike as I was cycling up a 25% incline I managed to sustain a conversation comfortably. She is very impressed with my physical endurance and capabilities for someone my size and is so impressed with my commitment to keep pushing even thought I am constantly whinging and saying I hate the place the whole time I am there. And in the mean time it looks like in the near future I will be starting weekly PT sessions. Both exciting and terrifying!!

This weekend has been a really invaluable learning curve for me. While I’m under the weather I did initially feel guilty about not going to the gym, not having the best nutrition and napping a lot more than I have as long as I can remember.

But you know what……..The more I think about it I am actually proud of myself. Proud that I am learning to listen and respect what my body is telling me. It knows what and how much it can handle and right now it’s ok to rest and recovery as that is what my body needs.

I know I’m not quitting, I’m still well and truly committed to achieving my goals but my current path is the Kleenex box and epic sneezing 🤣😂😅

On the plus side finally starting to feel a bit better this afternoon!

My cold has well and truly settled in! No pity party needed as it’s just a cold and I will survive. I have been made acutely aware of 2 major things that have changed since my surgery.

1. I’m ridiculously aware of my hydration now to the point that I have been walking around with a Powerade zero bottle in both hands.

2. Feeling unwell is a trigger for me with food for a quick fix to make myself feel better. Today I have found myself for the first time since surgery overeating, making bad choices and eating simply for the sake of eating. I am not upset or annoyed at myself, I do not feel guilty.

I am human after all! I am also using it as a learning opportunity. I feel empowered and enlightened that I have realised this fact so that in the future it’s something I can manage.

And because I needed a pick me up what better way to do it than a face off Friday!

So kooties have been roaring through my team at work with everyone dropping like flies. I thought I had dodged the bullet until I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by the congestion mac truck!!

My plans to go to the gym went completely out the window and instead my bum was reacquainted with the couch curled up under a blanket watching crap TV.

Not at all hungry but made myself have a minimum of my 3 meals. I just couldn’t deal with eating anymore than this! So here it is this is my Bariatric day of food!

So the steak looks huge right??

For non sleever here is a bit of perspective for you. The reality is this is 1/4 cup of veggies and 40g eye fillet steak, or visually. This dinner had me completely full to the brim and not able to fit in another mouthful….

Ps – no I don’t have gigantic hands hahaha it’s just a my tea party dinner 🤣😂😅

Today I have decided to do something a little bit different and celebrate in my inaugural Percy Awards post!

And the awards category of the day is…..

BEST SUPPORTING ROLE!!

And the nominations are:

1. My glasses

Today I am wearing “new” frames, which are actually my old frames just to confuse things.

I have had so many people tell me my frames were too big swallowing my face now that my face is so distinctly thinner. So I have decided to go back to my previous smaller frame glasses.

I give thanks to my glasses for most importantly giving me the capacity to actually see myself (and the world clearly) but thanks to my old frames for hiding my old chubby cheeks.

2. Zulily

Zulily gets a mention in its supporting role for not only feeding my addiction for internet shopping but for delivering me the ongoing gorgeous, cheap, stylish and SMALLER clothes that I am enjoying wearing at the moment.

Most of the newly premiered outfits of the last fortnight have been zulily bargains. I wonder when the delivery man will deliver my next parcel in transit?? 🤣😂😅

3. My bra

Today I also wore a new bra for the first time! I can’t believe the size, it is in the teens!! I started out as a 26f and today I was proudly rocking out (well secretly since I am the only one who sees it) in my new 18DD bra. It’s cute and it fits really well so I can roll up and stuff the windsocks, that were formally known as boob into them.

4. My new knickers

Today I also wore some new knickers also sized in the teens….what the?!?!?

I can honestly not remember when I last wore size 18 knickers! I am ashamed to admit this but I started out in size 28 bonds cottontails knickers that were tents in comparison to the new knickers. I thought I kept an old pair for reflection purposes however they seem to have been thrown out in my last wardrobe cull.

My new knickers also play a supporting role as they are control top knickers. While they aren’t as large and unattractive as the cottontails they do have to be constricting and supportive to pull in all the extra jiggly skin bits to not only attempt to keep things somewhat smooth but to also contain the excess skin and prevent any unwanted rashes and skin irritations. The struggles here are real! So thank you best n less control tops for keeps things contained!!

5. Paragon Fitness Centre

Oh how much I have a love/hate relationship with this place but Paragon and the amazing friendly and welcoming staff are playing a huge supporting role in me learning to take the time out and to invest the time in bettering myself emotional and physically!!

So kudos to all the nominees mentioned for the category of best supporting role but I am proud to announce that the winner is – Drum roll please………

MY SHORT LEGGED BIKE SHORTS

While I have a mass of excess skin in my batwings and belly and I no longer have boobs BUT the one area that causes me the most anxiety and discomfort is the excess skin in my upper thighs.

All I have ever wanted to do or wear is a cute tiny floral pair of shorts come summer but I know that will NOT, I repeat will NOT be happening until I have had reconstructive skin surgery. I had so much excess skin on my inner thighs that I refer to it as my second vagina. When I stand the skin sags down nearly to my knees and resembles a secondary lady business. I know, I know, such an attractive picture in your mind but it’s the facts! I love my new legs from my knees down but knees upwards is some kind of horror story!!

I have a picture but I just can’t bring myself to openly share it as it just really sets of my anxiety!

So this leads me to why my short legged bike shorts win the best supporting role. Whenever I am wearing anything other than pants, which is often since I have always been a dress girl I always and I mean ALWAYS have to have a pair of bike shorts on underneath my dress. I need this to keep the excess skin from rubbing and also from my keeping me from flashing my second vagina to the world. Nobody wants or needs to see that….me included!

My day started at 4am this morning, not by choice but that’s when my day kicked off….I have no idea why but I thought I’d get on my exercise bike at 6.30am and I did 30 minutes on the fat burner setting.

It must have got my happy endorphins going as getting ready for work I felt great and confident and pulled out another new streamlined outfit that was wayyyyyy outside of my comfort zone of being bright red and also much shorter than I am used it. Regardless, I pushed through the awkwardness and off I went to work in my size 20 dress.

I had so many compliments once again, which I really aren’t used to. I saw a colleague from one of the hospitals today and she even did I double take walking past me telling me that I looked phenomenal.

Looking at this photo the main thing I notice apart from my new found confidence is my shoulders! I actually have normal shoulders as opposed to the big round puffy and neck eating shoulders that I used to have!

Tonight by the time Lachlan has gone to bed it was 7.30 and the last thing I wanted to do was to go the gym, but I pushed through and off I went! Complete in my bright pink pants.

I did 10km on the bike and then 20 minutes hill profile on the cross trainer. I intended to do another 20 minutes on the treadmill but my body was telling me enough tonight you need sleep so it was time to call it a night

The old Holly would have made excuses as to why I couldn’t and shouldn’t go to the gym.

The new Holly just does what needs to be done to be the best version of myself!

Now to decided what new outfit to wear tomorrow 😜

Honeycomb Mousse with Protein Crumble

Makes: 12

Mousse Ingredients:

• 1 cup thickened cream
• 1/2 cup natural yoghurt
• 2 scoops (60g) honeycomb protein powder
• 2 teaspoon gelatine
• 1/3 cup boiling water

Crumble Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 scoops (30g) chocolate protein powder
• 1 tablespoon cacao
• 2 tablespoons crushed nuts
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Method:

• To make the Mousse dissolve the gelatine into the boiling water and then set aside
• Using electric beater to whip the cream, fold through the yoghurt, protein powder and gelatine mix until well combined
• Divide the mixture evenly between 12 containers, jars or cupcake cakes
• To make the Crumble place the oats, protein powder and cacao into a blender and pulse a couple times to slightly chop the oats
• Add the crushed nuts and maple syrup and use your fingers to clump the mixture together to form a Crumble
• Sprinkle the Crumble evenly over the top of the Mousse.
• Place on the fridge to set for a minimum of 4 hours but preferably overnight.
• 

Nutritional Value per portion:

• Calories: 124
• Total fat: 7.7g
• Total carbohydrates: 5.1g
• Sugars: 3g
• Protein: 8.1g

Recipe Notes:

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 7 days
• This recipe is not suitable for the freezer
• Protein powder used in the recipe is Protein Supplies Australia WPI Fast Release protein powders
• You can buy online from www.proteinsuppliesaustralia.com.au
• Use the Discount code psafriendsofhollys at checkout to get a 10% discount

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.

Coffee Protein Up & Go Go Go

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 weetbix biscuit
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee
• 1 teaspoon low calorie sweetener
• 1/2 cup high protein milk
• 1/2 scoop (15g) vanilla protein powder

Method:

• Dissolve the coffee and sweetener is the boiling water and then crush the weetbix biscuit into the coffee mixture
• Place in the fridge to soak overnight
• Add the milk and protein powder then blend until smooth
• Serve and enjoy immediately.

Nutritional Value per serve:

• Calories: 160
• Total fat: 2.6g
• Total carbohydrates: 19.5g
• Sugars: 10.3g
• Protein: 22.8g

Recipe Notes:

• Best served fresh

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.

Beefy BBQ Sausage Rolls

Makes: 20 large, 40 small or 60 party size

Ingredients:

• 5 puff pastry sheets, defrosted
• 500g  beef mince
• 500g sausage mince
• 200g diced bacon
• 3/4 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, finely diced
• 3/4 cup breadcrumbs

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line a tray with baking paper
• Place all ingredients except the puff pastry in a mixing bowl and massage the mixture through your fingertips until well combined
• Divide the mixture into 10 even portions
• Cut the puff pastry sheets down the centre into half forming 2 rectangles
• Using 1 half of the pastry evenly spread 1 portion of the meat down the slightly off centre down the middle of the wrap in a sausage shape
• Fold the smaller portion over the meat
• Fold the other side over to complete the sausage roll and use the tip of a fork to fuse the layers of pastry together the entire way along the join
• Cut each log into your desired portion size. Half for large, 4 for small or 6 for party size then place on the baking tray with the seal side down
• Repeat with the remaining pastry and meat portions
• Brush the tops of the sausage rolls with egg wash
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes on the tray before before enjoying or transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Notes:

• Store covered in the fridge for a maximum of 3 days
• This recipe is freezer friendly to be consumed within 6 months.
• Also delicious served hot or cold

Disclaimer: C4K Kitchen does not hold any responsibility for the consumer using this recipe including the storage guidelines and time frames recommended in the recipe notes. The consumer holds all responsibilities to ensure that food hygiene and safety standards are adhered to.