I have spent most of the last 7 days knitting socks, and yet, somehow I have lost 3lbs in weight. 

I therefore conclude that socks steal fat.

But seriously- diet is going well.  I have another appointment with the barriatric team today, as part of this 6month program, so everything is still more or less on track.

My Skin Is Here

The dinosaur costume arrived today.   It came all compressed in a tiny little plastic bag, but there was no way I could just stick it in a cupboard without getting it out and taking a look.

I was both amazed and delighted to find that it actually fits!!  Once I have lost weight it will be delightfully roomy, but I'm fairly sure that if I bought batteries for the fans I could use it right away.  I may do that at some point, just to make sure that the fans are working. ;)  We'll see.

It is now being stored in a Tescos 'Bag for Life' on the back of my bedroom door, because- of course- now that it has been unfolded there is simply no way in hell that it will ever go back into it's original package.  But that's ok.  It's even more awesome in person than it looked online, so I can't really complain. 

I am a very happy raptor right now. <3

I suppose the main reason why I don't update here often is because I feel I have very little to report.  My life carries on, and it feels like nothing changes... but looking back, things do actually change quite a bit.

I am still using a walking stick, but in the last few weeks my mobility appears to be very slowly improving.  I can walk longer between rests, and it hurts less when I finally stop.  I am still way, WAY below the speed and stamina that I used to have, but it's a step (or two) in the right direction.

Also, I am successfully losing weight!  Since starting Slimming World again, I have lost just over a stone.  I've had some rocky weeks, but on the whole the scales are showing numbers moving in the right direction.  This pleases me immensely!  
Also in weight-related news, I am now enrolled on the Barriatric Service's 6-month preparation course, which will almost certainly result in me being offered surgery in the first half of next year.  I was hoping it would be sooner, but apparently the government insists that there is some kind of 6-month program in place for anybody who is planning surgery on the NHS.  The team are all lovely people, and I am feeling positive about the outcomes.  I may do a post on it later on, when my choices are clearer.  But, it's still a positive step towards my goal of being a fit and active hunting dinosaur, able to chase down runners, rather than remaining a tired ambush-predator who can't catch anything faster than a rock.

But, there is one final piece of good news, and that is this:

It should be arriving on Monday, and I am over the moon. <3  I probably won't be able to physically fit in it yet (let alone caper about joyfully), but it has been ordered, and it is mine.  I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to find one in stock by the time that I was ready to use it, that I felt it was worth taking the plunge now rather than waiting. 

I'll consider it my 'carrot on a stick' for this whole thing.  One day, before my 35th birthday, I will don this suit and chase marathon runners. 

Before that, however, my long-time best friend has invited me to take part in the annual 'Glow in the Park' run next year.  It's 6 miles, and it's more of a fun-run than a marathon.  I'm aiming to get fit enough to maybe walk it (preferably without my stick), and if possible, I will be dressed in this magnificent reptile demis.  I'm hoping it will look pretty awesome under all the black-lights. ;)