Don't Come The Raw Prawn With Me!

Our journey to well-being has been thrown off track a little with a luxury stay for me at Robina Hospital, (the 5-star bit is tongue in cheek obviously!) 

We were on such a roll with our diet, only eating fresh organic food. Dinner at our house had improved by a 100%, that was until I bought some Black Tiger Prawns from Coles Supermarket in Worongary.

 

Within five hours my hubby and I were both hugging the toilet seat, vomiting and diarrhoea, stomach cramps and body aches to follow.

 

It is many, many years since I have had food poisoning, although I don’t think I have ever had it to this degree.  Craig spent two days feeling pretty poorly but has improved,  however I am still really crook a week on.

 

I complained to Coles asking them to inform the store immediately and so far haven’t been to impressed with their sense of urgency or sympathy. I got a rather terse reply this morning saying ‘I note you only wrote a week ago’ as if to say how dare you bother us with this unimportant matter.

 

If I could have at least stopped anyone else from getting crook, it would have made me feel a little better.  I contacted Coles on both Facebook and through their claims department but as yet all I am getting is ‘we are still looking into it’. 

 

I didn’t see any warning come out to customers or a recall, nothing, all rather worrying for a store as well-known and well respected as Coles. I would have thought they would have taken the matter a little more seriously or shown a little more concern, one for my welfare and secondly for making sure that others didn’t suffer unnecessarily. 

 

Their first question to me was ‘Did I prepare and store them correctly?’. Which of course is an important question. I always take food storage and preparation incredibly seriously having worked with food most of my life.  Plus, Craig and I both hold Food Hygiene supervisor certificates. I know it wasn’t anything we did which is what worried me, I just kept thinking for goodness sake please pull the prawns off the shelf NOW!

 

By day three of the food poisoning I was admitted to Robina hospital.  I had not been able to keep anything down and was starting to get severe pain and worried that perhaps the food poisoning had caused a pancreatitis attack. But it was simply terrible food poisoning that knocked me for six.  They put me on fluids and filled me full of anti-emetics and morphine for the pain!  I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy and just hope Coles takes it seriously and look into it properly and thoroughly.

My stay at Robina hospital was an interesting experience.  My veins are useless at the best of times but after days of not drinking or eating it took eight attempts to find a vein.  It wasn't much fun at all and I have to admit to feeling pretty sorry for myself.  

Something I did find interesting about my stay at Robina.  I hadn't realised how Covid was effecting even our local hospitals, considering with have no cases at all.  I had to be moved five times and eventually found myself in a rehab bed as all the wards were full.  The ED and assessment unit were full of people with sore throats, and colds all awaiting Covid results.  

The poor nurses and doctors decked out in full PPE, it seemed crazy.  They are absolutely run off their feet and everyone is mixed in together because there simply isn't anywhere to put everyone.  Can you imagine if we actually had cases?  How hospitals are coping in the UK and other countries that are struggling is anyones guess.  The saddest part for me was that Craig was not allowed to visit me at all and I did not see him for 24 hours all because of Covid, stupid thing is there were no Covid cases in the hospital!!

 

I got home last night and now being looked after by my lovely hubby.  Still have horrible stomach cramps but with the help of the tablets I am at least now not vomiting and I am able to keep water and some bland food down.

 

I have lost over 3 kg’s during this week and considering that I have only lost 2kg’s going to the gym and eating well one wonders whether weight loss is easier if you just get food poisoning!!!  I’m kidding of course!

I haven’t been to the gym for a week and it’s made me pretty sad. I know I can't believe it either, anyone would think I was actually enjoying it!!  My new membership and I can’t even use it.  Craig only got to come twice before we got taken sick, so feeling like we took one step forward and two steps back!

 

It’s going to be a few more days before we are up to speed again. I think the gym might have to wait for a good few days yet.  At the moment all I want to do is rest and sleep.   So frustrating when I had such good intentions.  I know it’s just a setback, but it’s so frustrating.  I had got past that awful pain barrier at the gym and it was starting to become easier and now I have to press reset and start over. 

All in all, a shit week, literally, (as Charlotte would say!) I can’t wait to start feeling better.  We have lost and had to turn work down, had to let people down which I really hate doing and paid for a gym membership I can’t use…definitely feeling grumpy, can you tell?!

 

Thanks for all the well wishes, they meant a lot to us. Thank you to my beautiful husband who has been just wonderful and looked after me so well, I’m amazed he hasn’t done a runner yet! 

 

Thank you to my beautiful parents who had Rosie this week, she had an absolute blast especially on her bus adventure to Burleigh with Mum. Needless to say she was spoiled rotten by them. I don't know what we would do without you guys in our lives, you are the best parents a girl could have.  Thanks also to our Charlotte, we came home to a clean house and all our washing done, dried and folded, you’re a little star.

 

Here’s to a better week!! 

 

Kate x

 

We're on our Way...

Today was day 14  at the gym.  I seriously can’t believe I have made it to two weeks!  But there was something that made today even more special!  Can you guess?!  

My beautiful, wonderful husband joined me today for the first time.  I was nervous taking him along hoping that everything would go okay and it wouldn’t be the first and last time he came with me!  There were a number of times on the way there where I thought he was going to change his mind but he didn’t he totally committed and I am so proud of him and me!  There were a few times he looked at me as if to say what the bloody hell are we doing this for (as you can see in the picture) but he was awesome.

We started out gently with cardio workouts on the bikes and other elliptical training machines.  We managed about an hour in the gym before we hit the swimming pool. I was worried that Craig’s asthma would make the whole experience awful but in actual fact it didn’t raise its ugly head at all which was a massive bonus.

 

He loved the pool and we are going to look into pool walking as well as swimming, something the specialist told me would be good for back problems.  The pool is such a lovely temperature and with the sun shining as well it wasn’t long before we were smiling and 'enjoying' ourselves.

 

We hit the hot pools which as normal was gorgeous, then you guessed it I made him try the cold pool.  It was very funny.  Last week he said to me “11 degrees? That’s not that cold” today he discovered just HOW cold 11 degrees actually is! Like me he only lasted seconds before we both ran screaming into the hot pool for relief.

 

Charlotte went off and did her own thing today, super proud of her for being so confident.  I wish I had half her confidence and tenacity.  She is so positive and encouraging, and all I need to do is look at her to see what I am aiming for!

All in all, it was a good first trip to the gym.  I think we may finally be on the path to a new us and I can’t wait to see what changes we can usher in to 2021. It can only get easier from here, we just have to be committed and determined.

 

I saw a poster today that said ‘The hard part is not getting the body is shape, the hard part is getting your mind is shape’ and I don’t think a truer word was ever said.  My mind sabotages me all the time, whether it’s my diet or the gym.  

 

This year I am going to train my mind, I am going to start believing in myself and my ability to reach our goals, however hard or distant they might be.  It’s time to change my perspective and shut that little inner voice inside of me down! 

 

Now let’s just hope COVID doesn’t close the gym!!!!!

Kate x

Wet n Wild here we come!

I have officially lost track of my day count...oh well!  Actually it's probably a good thing!  All I know is I am actually enjoying myself and this feels like it could stick this time!  I don't enjoy the gym work as much as the steam room and pool afterwards but I am getting there!

Took my measurements when I got to the end of week 1.  I have lost just over 2 kg and my waist measurement had improved by 9 cm, which I was very pleased with.  My big clothes are already a little more comfortable and I now have my eye on the section of my wardrobe that has been gathering dust for some years!  And once I am too slim for those clothes it will be shopping time!!  Craig has also lost 2 kg so although he isn't coming to the gym, the new diet is working which is fantastic.

The highlight of this week though has to be taking Rosie to Wet 'n Wild water park this past week.  After such a long time of not being able to manage days like that, let alone enjoy myself in the water with them, it was a really special thing.  I think it might have been a real milestone in my head for my back recovery and how far we have come in a year.  

It's so easy day to day to not see the improvements from a year ago.  But when you do something that requires you to push yourself like that you realise how much more you can do, that you couldn't before.  Rosie and I ran around like a couple of kids, we went on the black hole and the kamikaze in our little rubber donuts together and to see my little girl so happy to have her Mum even back to half speed was awesome. 

It made me again realise how important this journey to good health and fitness is.  Not just for me but everyone around me, especially my children.  Perhaps when I am struggling and feeling like I want to throw the towel in, that's when  I need to focus on them.  Sometimes doing it for myself is simply not enough, the call of the couch is too great.  But the joy of being at the Waterpark this week, well it was just awesome.  

Craig came too which was good, we sat him in a chair and he happily read his book.  Rosie tempted him into the water and she looked so happy to be swimming with her Dad.  All in all a fabulous day and one we intend to repeat numerous times before these holidays are over!

Still loving my air fryer, I haven't turned my oven on in a week now.  Even the kids are using it to create various wonders.  I used it do chicken filo parcels yesterday.  I didn't think they would work, let alone be crispy without the usual butter lathered all over them, but they were the best I have ever made.  I was surprised to say the least.  

Off to the gym now with Charli, so must get off.  We have fallen into a good pattern of getting up at 6 and being at the gym by 6.30am.  It's nice and quiet at that time and we can enjoy the facilities with a degree of peace and quiet!

Kate x

Today I Froze my Head - Day 6

 Day 6 – Today I froze my head

 

I have nearly lasted a week; I am so happy.  I know this is a journey made up of months and not weeks but to know I have got past week one feels like such an achievement. Tomorrow is rest day and I am looking forward to it.  

 

I have been really enjoying my time at the gym so it might be hard not to go tomorrow.  But apparently rest is an important as exercise and I have to admit to being really quite exhausted tonight.  For the first time my muscles and bones are a little tender, even though I managed to completely immerse myself in the cold bath today… that’s right I jumped in, head under and everything.

I may have gasped a little when I came up for air and the guy was right, for a moment I felt relief before the cold hit my ankles and I crawled falling straight into the hot pool.

 

I have also discovered I adore steam rooms.  I feel like you can literally (as Charlotte would say) feel the toxins leaving your body.  I could happily sit in them for hours, although obviously I don’t.

 

Charlotte and I discovered the ladies room at the EMF gym today.  What an awesome place, absolutely perfect for Charlotte in particular.  It’s a smallish room but with everything you could possibly want and it’s just for ladies. Even though everyone leaves you alone in the big gym it is really nice to have a place where you can be more private and less on show.  We worked really hard today and I have to admit to falling asleep on my lovely hubby this afternoon in front of the telly absolutely wiped out.

 

I am excited that, hopefully Craig will be joining us on Monday.  He is making good progress with his asthma so I am hoping that he will be well enough to get started, albeit gently and slowly.   It will be so much easier once I know we are on this gym journey together.

 

Our dinner tonight was salmon and sweet potato mash, care of the new air fryer.  Thanks Gina for the tip, it really does do salmon a treat.  I also made roasted veges for Charlotte and some Kale chips, it is certainly getting a good workout the new machine.  Thinking I might have to buy myself an air frying cookbook!

 

Day of rest tomorrow so you won’t hear from me.  But I will be back on Monday to let you know how the family trip to the gym goes!

 

Kate x

Air Frying Heaven - Day 5

I was the only one at the gym today, which was very strange, such a big place all to myself.  Well apart from a personal trainer who tried to hard sell me a session with him! After asking me my weight which frankly I found embarrassing, he then asks me what weight I would like to be.  I say 65kg would make me happy, he looks me up and down and says I think 55kg.  

He then gave me a lecture on how it's about commitment and wanting to change my life.  How I needed to change my diet and focus on making an effort.  I was kind of pissed off to be honest.  He doesn't know me from Adam and he just assumes I haven't already made these changes in my life.  I would have thought the fact it's New Years Day and I am the only one there shows that I might have already made a commitment. I managed to decline his help and quietly carry on with my walking.  It had the opposite effect on me, It made me feel discouraged, isn't that weird! I ended up leaving earlier than I would have done.   Note to self, don't be bullied by personal trainers, next time politely tell them to leave you alone!

The big highlight of the day today was when Mum and Dad came round with our Christmas present.  They must have known we were about to turn our lives upside down as they bought us an Air Fryer.  

I have seen these machines in shops plenty of times and often wondered what cooking in one is like.  Well now I know...completely AWESOME!!

I prepared some raw chicken in strips, capsicum and red onion in a fajita type herb and it took 10 minutes and was completely perfect, tender and tasty.

I served it with sweet potato wraps that come in with just 80 calories.  I thought they would taste like crap but they were actually delicious,  even Rosie enjoyed it.  The whole dinner took me 15 minutes from beginning to end!!  Thanks Mum and Dad you have just made our lives a little easier and healthier!

I have a feeling I will be spending this week learning to do recipes in our new toy!!

Kate x